Salty Snack

I saw the TV program about Japanese enterprise
going out to the market abroad the other day.
Calbee, the potato snack company
which has more than 50% share in Japanese market,
has now an ambition to sell their snacks in the United States,
where the sales for snacks are estimated in twice to five times more than in Japan.

The result of the monitoring test came out as an disaster
that they have to add more flavor and salt
so they can be accepted there.
Some snack lovers described Calbee's iconic snack Ebisen,
shrimp flavored cracker, as a dog poop, and for Jagabee,
which had a huge hit in Japan,
as Mac Fries in the state of 3 days after cooking
with additional comment it smells too strong like potato.
Ironically, these are the reasons why many Japanese snack lovers love Jagabee,

the crispness and the potato flavor coming from its origin.
And this Jagabee is the snack Calbee wants to push out to the American market.

Japanese are known for consuming more sodium in everyday life,
which resulted to higher risk of heart attack and many other diseases
since we use a lot of soy bean fermented products for cooking and eating.
I often felt, however, the snacks in the States
are much saltier than Japanese snacks.
Sometimes I felt like I was eating with bouillon cubes in BBQ flavor snacks.
The Calbee researcher added stronger seasoning
and more salt on regular Jagabees and tried the test again.
Chile and Wasabi, Black pepper and more salt, Cheese and more salt, etc...
They received a good response and reactions from the tasters
at the monitoring test in a store this time.

It's quite a disappointment for me to find only BBQ or Chile flavor
instead of lightly salted chips.
Some might say it's because you eat a whole pack of it by yourself,
then be able to feel enough saltiness.
If you eat just a couple of pieces, you wouldn't feel any taste at all.

I agree and disagree, too.
Some of the snacks and sweets in Japan taste very subtle
to feel its saltiness and sweetness,
but those American type of snacks has a strong impact from the first bite
which makes me wonder if it's all right.
I do not want to be accustomed to those stronger flavor and taste by snacks.
It stings my tongue and makes me sweat,
getting some strange chemical reactions from my body.

Calbee learned to add more salt in snacks for the States,
and start selling under the name of their biggest snack company Fritolay.
It can turn out to be good for surviving as a global corporation
but I am kind of afraid of being supplied much saltier snacks in future,
More people might get used to the stronger flavor and salt,
then it might make them dull for tasting and smelling.
It can lead you to lose some sense for the difference of each snack,
the quality of ingredients, and healthy diet.
If the taste is too subtle, you can add salt for yourself,
but if it's already too salty, there's no way of making less.
since you can't wash it out in water....

I want to expect Calbee to educate snack lovers
for coming to prefer subtle taste gradually.



先日、日本の企業が海外市場に乗り出すのを紹介するテレビ番組を観た。
ポテトスナックで有名なカルビーは、日本市場で50％以上のシェアを持ち、
今アメリカでの発売をもくろんでいる。
スナック菓子の売り上げは日本の2倍から5倍といわれる。

モニタリングテストの結果は悲惨だった。
アメリカで受け入れられるには、もっと味も塩気も足さないといけない。
スナック菓子愛好家の中には、カルビーの主力商品だったえびせんを、
イヌのウン○のようだと言ったり、
日本で大ヒット中のジャガビーは3日置いといたマックフライポテトのようだと言う人もいた。
しかもジャガイモ臭すぎると言うのだ。

皮肉にもその硬さとジャガイモ本来の風味が、
日本のスナック菓子愛好家がジャガビーを好きな理由。
しかもこのジャガビーこそ、カルビーがアメリカ市場に送り出したい菓子だった。

日本人は毎日の生活の中でナトリウムをとり過ぎると言われている。
それが心臓発作や他の多くの病気のもととなっている。
大豆発酵食品を料理や食事によく使うからだと。

しかしながらワシにとってはアメリカのスナック菓子は日本のよりもっとショッパイ。
バーベキュー味にいたっては、時々コンソメキューブをいっしょに食べてるような感じさえする。
カルビーの研究者は、通常のジャガビーにもっと強い味と塩を加え、再びテストした。
チリとわさび味、黒胡椒をもっとしょっぱく、チーズをもっとしょっぱく、というように。
そして実際の量り売りの店では今度は試食者たちからいい反応と返事が得られた。

ワシは店で塩味がなくてバーベキュー味とかチリ味のチップスしかないとガッカリする。
きっと一袋全部食べるから、塩気をそれに合わせて丁度よくなるようにしてるんだ、
もしちょっと食べるだけなら何の味もしないように感じるだろうといわれるかもしれない。

たしかに、でも違ってもいる。
日本のスナックやスイーツは塩気や甘みが薄味だ。
一方アメリカタイプのスナックはだいじょうぶかってくらい一口目からガッツリ来る。
スナックではあまり強い味や風味に慣れたくないと思ってる。
ワシには舌を刺すような、汗をかくような、不思議な反応が出るからだ。

カルビーはアメリカ向けのスナックには塩気を足すことを学習した。
そして今、世界最大のスナック菓子企業フリトレーの名のもとで売り出そうとしている。
グローバル企業として生き残るにはいいかもしれない。
だけどワシ的には将来もっとショッパイスナックが提供されるようになるんじゃないかと不安。
強い味や塩気に慣れた人は、味や香りに疎くなるんじゃないか？
材料の品質や健康的な食生活に鈍くなるんじゃ？
味が薄ければ塩気を加えられるけど、
すでにしょっぱくなってたら、和らげる方法はない。
水で洗い流すわけにも行かないしね。

カルビーにはスナック菓子愛好家がだんだん薄味を好むようになるよう、
教育してくれることを期待したいです。

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Love is letting go of fear

日本文はここをクリック

I received many interesting comments
on the article I wrote on Saturday,
Japanese who doesn't like Japanese.

It reminded me of the book I read before,
which explains why people dislike and hate others,
and how to get rid of this mental mechanism.

LOVE IS LETTING GO OF FEAR

This is translated in much funnier Japanese
" forward force down ", the name of Sumo technique.




Hatred is another face of fear.
This book tells how to say goodbye to the bad memory
which is a source of the fear,
and move forward in your life.

There may be some people, things, and foods you don't like.
They appear to endanger your life and identity.
A human brain works to dislike and avoid these things.

So you wouldn't hate it if you don't fear it any more.
To do that, you need love.
In Japanese, it's called Omoiyari, caring spirit.
Caring not only others and things but yourself.

There was already a great song in 60s before this book came out.

All you need is love by beatles.

I believe John Lennon was a missionary man
who kept sending us a message of love.

Unfortunately, there are some people
who seem like fighting against this with own bullet proof glass.
The message never penetrates their mind.

People always fear and hate different kind of people,
use bluff and attack others are who I think very primitive.
Wild animals are like this and mentally immature people, too.

When you were a child, there must have been so many things you didn't like.
If I blame grownups who stay in the same as childhood,
it would be immature, so I should just feel sorry for them instead,
though I think they are not really good influence for others.

I said people dislike different kind of people,
but people also dislike someone who is a lot alike themselves.


He or she who shows you something you don't want to see in yourself.
It's one of the defense mechaisms that you avoid facing your shortcomings,
but this will be solved by accepting yourself, e.g. loving yourself.

Though people often misunderstand love as just spoiling oneself,
people who raised children and pets knows the difference very well.

Getting over fear is difficult by self deception instead of self loving.
Fear makes you stay inside of yourself and lose interest in others.
It leads you to hatred and friendlessness.
It means you start lacking to gain stimulations and knowledge from outside .
Very inconvenient cycle in your life.

Then there are various groups and ornizations
which come to canvass you in this cycle.

Their target is someone who has no family and friends but fear and hatred.
Some newly developped religeon, or some lobbying organizations,
or so called "patriotic" right wings and nationalits.
Many of them say they offer you a self awareness,
but actually it is only the feel of belonging.
Your lonliness and fear vanish by belonging to the organization.
You might say they fulfill needs and supplies.
I find many of their lobbying and attacking others are socially harmful.
Their wish for peace often turns out to be another conflict.

There is a war memorial day coming in Japan soon.
Not only pray for victims, step forward to learn this mechanism.
Understand others and love them even with their shortcomings.
That's what I was reminded and what I want to remind you of, too.

ランキング参加中！応援よろしく～！
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If you learned something, or if you just like me, click here!

Japanese who doesn't like Japanese

日本文はこちらをクリック

Sounds familiar? or are you surprised?

I encounter these people sometimes in abroad.

They try hard enough to blend in the local people.
They feel embarrassed by other Japanese tourists,
behaving and speaking in different way.
Some try to pretend they are not Japanese.

I'd say they are too harsh for their own people.
I guess they have some great complex being Japanese
and it mortivates them to go on at the same time, too.

I see the same type of people among people
who write about learning English in their blog.
Native speaker does this, does not say that,
it's true because I heard it from native speakers, etc...
These words come from who are not native in the language.
with a great admiration to the native speakers of English.

Since Japan does not accept many immigrants,
we are not used to see different kind of people in general,
so some create their own ideal image about so called native English speakers.
A little isolated image from reality, which are often fantasized with few information.
It happens to the observations, too.
Ideal image of how they look, for their fashion and food,
how they behave and talk, and for their culture and politics,, etc..
Some have very biased image for both Westerners and Japanese,
though they would complain Americans are such, french are such, too,
whenever the trouble comes onto them.

This can be also seen in some women who are married to foreiners.
Is it because she adore her husband so much,
or her husband is the result of her admiration of Westerners?
I don't know which comes first, but to me they seem to look down
the pople from their origin.
I guess this comes from their low self esteem,
and they are easily affected and influenced by whom has less complex
like water goes down to a lower place.

Some are very tough in action and speech, too,
maybe because they had to survive in different culture and different pople?
"Oh, Italians are always like this. I am not any special nor different."
It could be their excuse, but I think they were already tough from the beginning,
tough enough to be called self centered and impatient.

Women and gay men are usually more social crimbers in my opinion.
Their upward mobility goes with marriage and love, too.
This crimbing spirit makes them stay away from the people in poor English skill.

People I just mentioned are a little old fashioned, I think.
I'm not talking about the age though.
I see very little pride and great myth of this "native speakers" in younger generation.
I think it's natural for them and it's not only for English,
because they have little experience and learning in the life yet.

It's been 30 years since air fare dramatically dropped,
and about 15 years? sice internet became common.
Meeting and communicating with foreign people is not special occation any more,
Some people befriend each other
without the myth that Native English Speaker is always right.
More people are aware of the value of their own culture and origin,
and keep active in abroad, introducing Japan and advocating other people about Japan.
They have a pride and confidence in their origin while learning others to combine with it.
Instead of trying to be like native speakers, expressing their origin among them.

Biased pespective and prejudice for the people from their origin
are only coming from their low self esteem.
Distinction can be sometimes necessary but discrimination is not.
I'd say it's more like monkey society if you do,
and it would make evolution backwards.
Instead of crimbing it's only pushing down other people.

Though it's a pitty if one socialize only with Japanese,
Japanese who try to stay away from their origin would be even more so.
It shows their habit to keep privacy and distant
among so many people in a small land of Japan.
I think it's very Japanese and and interesting irony they have.

If one was born in Japan and studied English in Japan,
no need to be embarrassed with its Japanese accent and mistakes in English grammar.
Make friends and communicate with them without fear and learn from them.
We are equal as human beings with pride and respect.
I think it is the most important thing we learn from Western culture,
and that's what we should keep in our mind.

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Coming home

I'm home !

Inside the house was very dark
everything was blurred until my eyes got used to.

Burnt by the strong sunlight,
I felt slightly cool air on my skin.

Afterimage of the sun behind my eyes
still making it hard to focus everything

Unloading the baggage from the shoulder
I walked into the long corridor.

Mother popped out from the kitchen
said in a surprised tone with her eyes wide open.

Oh, you are back !

Yes, I'm home.

Repeated the phrase,
with showing a smile this time.
I walked to the fridge and opened the door.

Though I put hand on a can of beer,
took out the bottle of barley tea.

After quenching my thirst by emptying the glass
I asked mother

How have you been?

Not much going on here.

Oh, that's good to hear.

Outside streets are busy and a heat wave of midsummer stays.
Everything is melted in mirage,
but mother and father still seem to be in shape.

I wonder if she shrank a bit,
or lost some weight?

Coming back to the country I was born,
everything appears to be downsized.
so I get confused by my own volume.

Sitting down on the sofa in livingroom
I hear the wind chime ring.
It induces me to sleepiness.

Hearing mother's talking as a background music
I come to feel like taking a nap.

Will you wake me up when dinner is ready?


...... so I had a pleasant dream as above
at dusk of midsummer near Bon festival..


vocabularies

blur　かすむ、ぼやける
get used to　～に慣れる
slightly　ほんの少し
Afterimage　残像
focus　焦点を合わせる
Unload　荷物などを降ろす
corridor　廊下、通路
pop out　ひょいと出てくる
phrase　フレーズ、言葉
fridge　= refridgerator 冷蔵庫
quench my thirst　喉の渇きを癒す、湿らせる
empty　空にする
mirage　陽炎、蜃気楼
in shape　もとのまま、しっかりしている
shrank　= shrink の過去形　縮まる
lose some weight　いくらか体重を落とす
confused　戸惑って
appears to be　～のようにみえる
downsize　縮小する
volume　容積、サイズ
wind chime　カリヨン、風鈴
induce　～を誘う
come to　～するようになる
feel like ing = want to ～したい
nap　昼寝
dusk　夕暮れ



日本文

ただいま

そう言って入っていった家の中はとても暗く
目が慣れるまですべてがぼやける

強い日差しを浴びてた肌が、
少しひんやりした空気に触れる

目の裏の残像は赤くきらめき、
焦点を合わせるのを邪魔する

肩から荷物をどさりと降ろし、
長い廊下を進んでみると、
台所から出てきた母が
目を見開いて驚いたように

あら、お帰りなさい

ただいま

同じ言葉を繰り返した
今度は笑顔も添えながら、
そのまま歩いて行って冷蔵庫を開ける

缶のビールに手を伸ばし、
やっぱり麦茶にしようとビンを取り出す

グラス１杯を飲み干すと、
後ろに立っている母に向かって

元気だった？

相変わらずよ。

そうか、それならよかった。

外は真夏で、人も熱波もすごい勢い
景色がゆらめくような暑さだけれど、
母も父も元気なようだ

あれ、背が縮んだかな
やせたんじゃない？

生まれた国に帰り、家に帰り、
すべてのスケールが小さくなったような
自分の体の大きさを持て余すような
そんな錯覚に内心戸惑いながら

居間のソファに腰を下ろすと、
軒下の風鈴がちりんと鳴って、
眠りに誘われるような風情

ずっと話しかけてる母の声をＢＧＭに
少し昼寝がしたくなる。

夕飯になったら起こしてくれる？

…そんな幸せな夢を見た
盆も近づく夏の夕暮れ



面倒でなければここをプチッと押してください～！

The Song From Kokuriko Hill by Studio Ghibli

This song was written about 35 years ago.
Now it's brought back once again on the screen
as the theme song for "From Kokuriko Hill"
brought by the famous team that made " Spirited Away ".
I introduce the original song in this blog,
with a translation in English.
Hope you'd try to sing this in karaoke !



The Summer of Goodbye
lyric translation by terrysun

In sparkling ocean light,
there goes the blurring ship
leaving the sound behind the hull
the whistle of Goodbye.

Walking down from the hill,
that slopes down to the beach,
there is a breeze of summertime
remind me of you.

Let sing of my love,
in sweet melodies
singing high and singing low
the sound of my heart.
Let go of my love,
just like the seagull flies
flying high and flying low
above the sea.

And when the sun goes down,
and if I call your name,
will it bring back my memories
of you with the smile?

Walking down on a street,
I hear the trembling trees
they cast a shadow on the road
the veil of Goodbye.

There is a weathercock
on the old chapel roof
will it show me the town below
in light of summertime?

Let go of my love
in tears of yesterdays'
drying up and soaring high
as the wind blows.

Let come of my love
tomorrow for refrain
forever and endlessly
in my heart.

And when the sun goes down
and once again we meet
I wonder if you hold me tight
and love starts again.


オリジナル歌詞

さよならの夏
歌／森山良子 作詞／万里村ゆき子 作曲･編曲／坂田晃一

光る海にかすむ船は
さよならの汽笛残します。
ゆるい坂を下りていけば
夏色の風に会えるかしら
私の愛、それはメロディー
高く低く歌うの
私の愛、それはかもめ
高く低く飛ぶの
夕日の中、呼んでみたら
優しいあなたに会えるかしら

散歩道にゆれる木々は
さよならの影を落とします
古いチャペル風見の鶏
夏色の街はみえるかしら
昨日の愛、それは涙
やがて渇き消えるの
明日の愛、それはルフラン
終わりのない言葉
夕日の中、巡りあえば
あなたは私を抱くかしら

Visit Japan to Help Japan

Not only safe but fun Japan
by terrysun



Yes, Japan has been once again beaten.
Tohoku disaster left cruel mark by its humongous claws.
Yet we are not standing still just to watch the damage,
but keep moving forward to rebuild the broad area.

I heard so many people overseas hesitating to visit Japan
because they'd feel guilty for having fun while we were struggling,
but it would be changed once you arrived in this country.

There are so much fun left in Japan.
So many places to walk around,
and we have a lot to offer once you get here.

Our welcoming spirit never die.
Especially in time like this.
There are uncountable cancellations in hotels,
and almost always empty shops since the wrong rumour,
people are losing their jobs in tourism from and above Tokyo area.

Restraining yourself from travelling Japan
is not only missing the opportunity to see the places to remember,
but also the chance to see the people who await you from the heart.

The Lady Gaga visited Japan,
just to show the world Japan is safe to be.
Japanese products are still in its shape and special care.
Food in Japan is even going through the toughest safety inspections,
for its traditinal and creative recipes.
The famous hospitality and its spirit will be showering over you.



Travelling should be fun, and it will be guaranteed.
while it can also be informative and educational in your life.

See and feel for yourself what the great nature can do and can't do.
It can make everything nada, but it can not wipe away our spirit.
From zero or negative, we start again to be reborn.
Witness yourself how we are doing after the tremendous loss.
Just like ants on the ground, even the nest was swallowed by rain water,
they'll survive and start working again as if nothing happened
but with a new wisdom.
Then please advocate your friends and family and neighbors,
that Japan is fun to watch with its toughness and broadness.

Your travel plan will be the support for Tohoku.
Your fun will be a help for Japan and cheers for the people.
Come and see the devastation they are in,
and notice the people who are accepting and still smiling.
They need your help and smile more than ever.

For Japanese bloggers,
I urge you to write your blog or tweet in English or Chinese or Korean
or any other language to let people overseas know we are doing fine,
so people can read how things are in Japan.
If the government can not do this,
we should be the one to do it...

RGB

RGB - your color, my color

by terrysun


There it is!
The sun is incredibly bright.

As it makes us blind
in the world of full glare.

The color of Red, Green, and Blue,
All combined to whiteness.

You and I and someone, too,
the differences become invisible.

The conflicts create reflections,
Losing colors by enhancement.

Trees, clouds, waters, and mountains
When the wind comes and passes through

The color of yours and mine and someone's
all come out and start to show.


Here it is !
The shade is so deeply dark.

As it makes earth far away
in the hole of silhouettes

The color of Red, Green, and Blue,
All combined to blackness.

You and I and someone, too,
the differences cast dark shadows.

The conflicts create thick layers,
Losing colors by absorption.

Trees, clouds, waters, and mountains
When the sunset comes and goes down,

The color of yours and mine and someone's
all be bathed and start to shine.

This is the moment I adore,
the differences become so lovable.


Click me if you liked it!

English version 英訳・命の別名 by 中島みゆき

There is a real English version on youTube,
but it sounds really 70s and 80s,
and changed the meaning of the lyrics conspicuously. ♪
So I kind of tried the best to express its life in lyrics.

Another Name of Life

We are growing everytime we learn the words we didn't know
getting closer to the grownups we were taught to be,
But there will be certain words that we can never memorize
the words which we can never learn by heart.

I wonder if I ever be a help for anything
or if I will vanish from the world before I know
I hope there's someone who feels joy with my existence
somewhere in this world I live in now

Oh, Rocks, woods, and water in the ocean and the stream,
all those elements of the universe
just live and let me live

Now raise the torch to light up all the tragedy which will never end
For you and me, for everyone, reveal what hides in shade !
It's the life we've always treasured for. Another name is "heart".
For you and me, for everyone, whose name is no one knows.

When someone can so easily be in tears for anything,
can someone so easily feel the pain we have inside ?
There is a time we have to be smiling on the surface
hiding sorrows, weeping in our heart.

* Oh Rocks, woods, and water in the ocean and the stream,
You've never hurt anyone or anything unlike me...

Now raise the torch to light up all the failure which is never learnt
For you and me, for everyone, reveal what hides in shade !

** It's the life we've always treasured for. Another name is "heart".
For you and me, for everyone, whose name is no one knows.

* refrain to the end

** refrain to the end



(revised on May 6)



オリジナル歌詞

知らない言葉を覚えるたびに
僕らは大人に近くなる
けれど最後まで覚えられない
言葉もきっとある

何かの足しにもなれずに生きて
何にもなれずに消えてゆく
僕がいることを喜ぶ人が
どこかにいてほしい

石よ樹よ水よ ささやかな者たちよ
僕と生きてくれ

くり返す哀しみを照らす 灯をかざせ
君にも僕にも すべての人にも
命に付く名前を"心"と呼ぶ
名もなき君にも 名もなき僕にも

たやすく涙を流せるならば
たやすく痛みもわかるだろう
けれども人には
笑顔のままで泣いてる時もある

石よ樹よ水よ 僕よりも
誰も傷つけぬ者たちよ

くり返すあやまちを照らす 灯をかざせ
君にも僕にも すべての人にも
命に付く名前を"心"と呼ぶ
名もなき君にも 名もなき僕にも

石よ樹よ水よ 僕よりも
誰も傷つけぬ者たちよ

くり返すあやまちを照らす 灯をかざせ
君にも僕にも すべての人にも
命に付く名前を"心"と呼ぶ
名もなき君にも 名もなき僕にも

命に付く名前を"心"と呼ぶ
名もなき君にも 名もなき僕にも

A Thank You Letter After Tsunami & Quake.

To the people all over the world

I would like to thank you for all the support you are giving us in this difficult moment. I especially appreciate your warm observation of Japanese people.

There wouldn't be no Japanese who is not proud of being Japanese when we hear you admire us on TV or in news papers. Comments for our patience and manners in the eye-closing devastation. No one has started it with intention of being recognized by foreign countries but everyone's been just doing whatever he or she can do right now. Now we are really proud of it being recognized and admired of those routine jobs by you, too. It gives us much greater motivation and energy to continue to do the same than you can ever imagine.

We've been always and somehow feeling small in the world as individuals. Mentally weak and shy, guilty-motivated mind of each, in spite of all the success in many industrial fields and GDP. We seldom considered ourselves as people to be proud of. You may call it modesty or low self esteem as a whole.
We are facing the worst disaster since the world war II right now which has beaten us to inside the bones with the tremendous loss. Almost no idea of where to begin to rebuild our country over the pieces of houses and cars, and unidentified bodies under them, no need to add the air polluted by radiation.

Then we hear the voices from all over the world, telling us we could do it, we were unbelievably patient and something of good example for many other countries. You wouldn't know how much it means to us. Even nasty bloggers and twitterers, unpatriotic kids and suicidal people feel the pride of being Japanese now, and it's all because of you, your recognition and admiration on top of showing your support and generous offers to this small island in east. You've already helped us to retrieve our pride and honor.

We are now aware of what we have been doing is not so wrong, and some people actually like us and believe our ability to start from worse than zero. Your voice may not have reached the people grieving in Tohoku yet, but other people who heard of it will let them know for sure. We will start helping them to rebuild the land without doubt and fear, because the world has given us courage and trust. We know now we can do it because you assure us of your warm assistance.

Thank you again for your warm supports and messages. We will never forget it, and never give up on hope in this country. God bless you all !


click please, if you liked this

Have I ever ? from Earthquake & Tsunami Japan

Dedicated to all the people in the world.



Have I ever felt so scared in my life?
Have I ever seen such catastrophe near me?
Have I ever been challenged to be so strong?
Have I ever done something wrong to be punished?


Have I ever thought of friends and family so dear?
Have I ever listened to what they were telling me?
Have I ever wondered how they were and what they were for me?
Have I ever loved them and other people and my country so much?

Anger, fear, depression.
Beauty, peace, devastation.
Hope, sorrow, disappointment.
Come and gone, come and gone.

Have I ever been so moved and shaken by so many people ?
Have I ever heard so many "don't give ups" from so many people?
Have I ever said and written so many thanks to so many people?
Have I ever been so touched by the same message from so many people?

Have I ever thanked for what I got?
Have I ever taken things as they were?
Have I ever respected the mother nature?
Have I ever ....?

Life, death, questions.
Light, mist, darkness.
End, start, beginnings.
Come and born, come and born.

by terry s.

The voice echoed away in Tsunami

The voice echoed away in the flood.テーマ：Totally English

←The town office after the Tsunami

Miki Endo, 25 yeas old woman in Miyagi who was a town office worker
in an emergency administration department, continued announcing the Tsunami warning until she too was swallowed and swept away by the 40 feet high flood.
There are still 10,000 people missing in this town after the earthquakes and Tsunamis.  She is one of them.

" Please run, run for the higher place ! " she screamed through the microphone.
She wouldn't have known the three story building of the town office was about to be torn by floods, or she might have known but put her priority on saving other people in her sight.

" She must have been exerting all her strength to do her job until the end."
Miki's mother told the reporter in tears.

One of Miki's colleagues who survived from the flood by holding the radio antenna, told her mother that he saw she was being washed away by sea water. She gave up her hope then.

Ms. Houga, a friend of her mother was driving her car away from the flood
while she was hearing Miki's voice from the speakers behind.
Being chased by water, finally she outraced and arrived at the shelter.
And she met Miki's mother there.

After a while, she told Mrs Endo,
" I could hear your daughter's voice behind until the building vanished in the flood."

Looking down the town from the hill, there were none but the dark stream.


Japanese article and photo by Hiroshi Higa, Mainichi News paper.

オリジナルの記事はhttp://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20110313-00000032-maip-soci

The beautiful room can be empty

 

Oh, my, gooooood....

Did you watch the Close-uo Gendai on NHK the other day ?

One of their topics was about unmarried people of age under 35 in Japan. The survey was held this year and they found out the surprising numbers in there.

About 30% of men and 24% of women are still unmarried not including, of course, people under 20. This was rather a predicted fact, maybe, but look at this numbers ;

unmarried men : 25 to 29 : 79%, 30 to 34 : 48%,

unmarried women : 25 to 29 : 60%, 30 to 34 : 30%

Even the concept of marriageable age is getting higher or none any more, this is still shocking to me. Despite the other survey by Yomiuri, it seems that many of them are not really happily unmarried in my impression from the topic. They have some reasons to stay unmarried, and that's the subject in the NHK program.

Year by year, the birthrate is decreasing in Japan. This survey may show the reason, too. Many of those singles want to marry, but they say they can't.

The main reason from the point of view of single women, it's hard to meet someone whose income is more than 4 million yen a year. Considering the income of unmarried, 75% of the men of the age group 25 to 34 earn less than 4 million. No need to say 80% of those women earn less.

In current economical situation in Japan, many women feel insecure about their lives without enough income, now and especially in future, so they try to sort out the men who do not meet this condition from their candidates list.

30% of unmarried men are now not full employee, and 50% of those women, too. This is telling more than half of the people under 35 are actually not full-employee.　It makes them more difficult to make enough money to marry and raise children.On the other hand, are those men so desperate for marriage?
Well, yes and no.

Half of them are desperately trying to make more money and meet someone. Other half of them are sort of happy being single and living with parents, at least it appears so because they don't go out at night and adore AKB girls for fantasizing. This is the second reason.

More than 75% of unmarried men are living with parents in their house instead of being independent somewhere else, and 80% of the women, too. There are less spending, less housework, and less loneliness than when living alone. This idea seems to be spreading globally now.

We used to tease Italian friends for their living with mom even they were already grownups, but now it's often seen in U.S.A., too, the country of independence. They say they can't afford to keep their own house, household, education for children, and so on, since the Subprime crisis. Well blamed on the economy, though their marriage ratio is not so low as Japanese yet.

For those who want to marry but can't because of husbands' salary, I still believe marriage and money can be separated if you really love someone. There wouldn't be any humble families if you can't get married without financial secureness. Many families are living up on less income and raising children even they always complain that they want more income to eat and buy things.
Back to the people looking for a man with 4 million a year, the financial condition is not solid as before any more. You may encounter a lay off at any time when your company goes bankruptcy or M&A, as it was for Japan Airlines which was believed as one of the most desired enterprise to work for by students and new graduates.

You can marry the guy who doesn't make 4 million. You just may not be able to rely on your husband forever, so you may want to work as well or you may even find a nicer job than his, and make 4 million instead. In that case why don't you feed him, and your husband will take care of your house.

You can have children even if you do not make 4 million. You just won't be able to rely on those expensive private school to educate your kids. I heard that many parents are against the idea of their daughters choosing guys who make less than 4 million a year. I wonder if they know it looks they are the same as daily farmers who raise cows and try to sell them as high price as possible. Then those parties, held by marriage consultants, start looking as if they were the very fancy escort clubs negotiating their prices.

Marrying with 4 million a year is just a fantasy. It doesn't promise you anything in future unless you are seriously committed to your husband's work and yourself. Having kids with 4 million a year is never enough for whom desires more as they get, and probably their kids will grow up with wanting more and more...

If you find someone you feel love, however, it promises you at least one thing or two. The future with someone you care for, who may be always on your side from others, and the possibility of joy of having nice kids and holding grandchildren. So stop calculating your future with only those fancy numbers and try to meet someone. Someone you feel you can sacrifice your housewife dreams, who may even turn out quite a catch unexpectedly. If not, there will be always the door open to the outside. So don't throw away the possibility to meet someone from the start just because of his income.

For those who is happily unmarried, though I still believe it's nice to have a partner in life, I have nothing to say to them because hopefully I believe they have guts to be alone and friends to share good times with in future, otherwise, they might get too keen on getting rid of what they feel it's tiresome from their life and live being surrounded by only what they like.
In metaphorical saying, they may end up with the beautiful room which is empty and cold.

English version 恋の予感から by Lemioromen

The Feel of Love by Lemioromen

How can I put my love into any word
I just don't know how to do it
How can I go without loving you so much
though it's almost painful to me

The wind was gently caressing your cheek that day
Your sweet smell melted in the air and came into my lungs
I was then surrounded by your warmth that shook my heart

I'm caught inside the feel of love
no way to run away from you
It's flooded in my heart and soul
Just like an energy
it goes around in me
Oh I love you, just those three words,
Everyone says all the time
Why, oh why it's making me too shy to say
(and) squeezing all my heart

How can I fill my heart, the emptiness inside
I just don't know how to do it
How can I go to sleep
as morning comes so soon
and starts to shine my heart once again

What do we know and
how much do we know each other
Forgive my cowardliness,
but I get so scared of getting hurt
The most important words to say
just stuck in me
too shy to say

I'm caught inside the feel of love
just trying to find the light of love
so I will pour it in your heart
Even I look so silly
just want to believe in you

Day by day, and year by year
there's no same day come by to us
So hold my hand
and let me share the pain you have
let me share your love

In the sky moonlight
shining through starlight
I see light in you
the eclipse in you
like the moonlight reflects
our heart

Step by step we go along
with only two of us
barefoot and truer heart

I'm caught inside the feel of love
just trying to find the best of me
This feel inside of me tonight
I'll take it to your heart
sending all my love to you

I love you so, I love you more
It's only thing that I can say
No mater what happens to me anyway
I never run away,
Oh, I am not scared.

日本語詞

どうしようもない愛しさを
何に例えられようか
どうしようもないやるせなさと
それは似ているのかな

風は君の髪を撫でていたね
優しい香りで心に灯をともして
温かい空気が胸を揺らすよ

恋の予感からどうにもならない
想いが溢れた
身体の中を駆け巡るんだ
好きだよ　それだけ　たった一言が
どうしてこんなに胸を締め付ける

どうしようもない淋しさは
何で埋めたらいいんだろう
眠れぬ夜　静かな朝日
心を焦してゆくよ

お互いの何を知っているかな
傷つくのが怖いと臆病　になる
大切な言葉　素直に言えなくて

恋の予感からひとすじの愛を
注ぎ込んでいこう
馬鹿をみるでも信じていたい
作日今日明日と同じ日はないさ
心が苦しい時は抱き合って

満ちて欠ける月の様な
光も影も僕らの心の姿のまま

積み上げていこう
素顔のままを裸の想いを

恋の予感から一番大事な
想いが溢れた
君の心に届けたいんだ
好きだよ　好きだよ　たったそれだけで
どれだけ追いつめられても
かまわない　怖くはない

This is my poet

I wrote this to cheer up everyone.

Digging down the globe is the picture you may need.

Reason to Live

When you are down.
don't try to look up the sky
It's too bright and blue
So just look down the earth instead

Imagine you can see through
the ground you are standing
Penetrate the asphalt
there are so many small lives going on

They are much smaller than you
so eager to survive day by day
just because they were born
no other reason to live

Then you go deeper
don't try to stay at the core
It's too dark and heavy
you just need to fight the gravity

Imagine you are drawn in
the ocean you are swimming
Desperate for the air
you are almost swallowed and giving in

There is only a hope in you
so eager to survive kick by kick
Just because you were born
no other reason to survive

Then you will see the sky
It's so bright and blue
So full of air,
the joy of living out there.