September has started!

I'm spending a quiet weekend while the typhoon 12 is passing through Japan. We number typhoons so this is 12th one this year. We usually have more of them maybe ten more are coming this year. This typhoon is very slow and stay around Japan about a week. Therefore, since past few days until maybe tomorrow, it continues suddenly raining heavily and stopping. My area is not hit severely but still affected.

Not only Japan but also many other countries go through nature challenges like earthquakes and hurricanes. I hope all of you around the world are alright.

It's quiet but there are changes in Japan. We have the new Prime Minister and the new Cabinet members. We vote parties and candidates and the President of the ruling party is the Prime Minister in Japan. We can't choose the Prime Minister directly and the members of the ruling party can choose him. There aren't certain terms to complete as Prime Minister in Japan. But one term as the President of the ruling party is 3 years and he can stay for 2 terms at maximum, meaning 6 year. Unfortunately, many Prime Ministers can't complete the terms because his members pass a vote of nonconfidence in the Cabinet. If he doesn't like it, he has to dissolve the Diet and have election again.

A good thing is hot and humid summer is ending. I can feel coolness in the air and start hearing autumn insects chirping. We have 4 more months this year. I hope you can accomplish what you desire to do this year.

Fukushima now

People all over the world have to reconsider nuclear power plants. We, Japanese definitely should do right away! But sadly, our Prime Minister will have to be replaced soon due to the ugly conflicts among politicians who think about only their own merits. New candidates are positive about nuclear power. We don't have the right to vote for our Prime Minister. We need a strong leader with the good will.

the anniversary of the end ot the Second World War



A-bomb Dome in Hiroshima

Aug. 15th is an unforgettable day for Japanese. On the date of 66 years ago, it was the end of the Second World War. There are other unforgettable days in August. The first A-bomb was drooped in Hiroshima on 6th and the second one was in Nagasaki on 9th.

It is very difficult to talk about the war. All the countries have their opinions. Of course, Japanese have! And I have!!

Whenever I take a group to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I have to talk about the war. I try to be objective and talk about the timeline and data. I trust how they felt when they visited the sites and museums. And at last I always say, `I don't add and extract anything.  Please trust what you felt here and relay the message.'

I often had a group of mixed nationalities. It is very sensitive and difficult time as a guide. When I have a group of Asian members, I shouldn't take them to Shinto shrines and talk about Emperors.

Twice in my guide life, I had a group of old Americans and Germans. I was with both groups about 2 weeks. The Third World War was almost started between them. One German couple who were very nice but treated badly by Americans in one group said war was not the subject but the object. I like this phrase. Another German lady in another group actually said the war still continued. In my point of view, she was a very difficult lady and it was not the problem of the countries but the problem of herself.

No wonder why I'm so strong mentally! I met so many people from many countries and went thorough unbelievable experiences.

Although we suffered from A-bomb in 1945, we didn't learn anything. The nuclear power plants in Fukushima were exploded following on the heels of the earthquakes this year. As for this, not only I but also many Japanese citizens would like to say many things. But I try not here.

More and more of us start to think of environment and seek the way to live an eco-friendly life. When we destroy the environment, we can't live in this planet. We are powerless in front of Nature. Please stop fighting. Live peacefully.

Considering a long history of this planet, we, the human beings are newcomers. We have obligations to pass this planet to our children and our children have rights to receive this planet as we did from our parents.

Please alway remember this fact!