Me in Bangkok, and people in Palestine. Is there any difference? Well, just the place where we were born. But the first has never experienced the fear to be in a place where war is possible at any time.
The evil of this world seems to be too big. Media report as if it is OK to kill Palestinians, justifying the reasons of Israeli officials. How will they report about the process from now on? Well, very little hope that they will improve… Maybe they will change the numbers reported at least. Hopefully.
Some people have stood up for it: メディアとガザ報道(Sorry! Jp only. It is a commentary by Ryuichi Hirokawa, a Japanese photojournalist, on the current media reporting and facts about this issue) What am I to do? My question needs to find an answer.
Thai hospitality. Japanese hospitality. Italian hospitality.
I have heard them all, and I wonder if they (and wherever hospitality) have ever existed. I know hospitality exists, but I do not expect a country to have hospitality all the time, everywhere.
Today I went to one office of the government of Thailand. Yes, it is a governmental office… You can expect anything there. Read the rest of this entry »
Another year has started, according to the Gregorian calendar. Some astrologists say that this year is worse than 2007, as the bad flow keeps coming with no where to be flown into. More killings? More disasters? More tragedies?
It started with all the news about Gaza. There is all the political and money games going on behind it. Who can justify killing anyway? Is there any good war? It seems like money is the most important, not life.
My new year resolution, in short it is: “High angle (俯瞰).” I do not worry anymore just because of things I can see closely. There is the whole world behind them. I do want to get away from my traditional habit to worry too much in advance.
I wish you a happy new year, happier than the one before All the best!
When one party feels heard, another one is just fed up with all the talk. Is dialogue only about listening to another person? No.
The times I felt that dialogue came true are just twice in my life. I think I am lucky I got two. Both were memorable. Both needed a lot of patience. Both ended with recognition of difference, not unity or consensus.
I wonder what “dialogue” means to the politicians and most of ppl in power of this world. Is that just giving pressure to another party?
When I hear ongoing sessions of the Japanese HouseofRepresentatives, it is odd. Our dear PM Aso does not only listen to another party, but gives an answer unrelated to the topic.
He is the head of the Liberal Democratic Party, the most voted party of Japan. If people have chosen him (I never voted for his party… sorry ), I guess most of the people here choose monologue, no dialogue.
How do I explain? For me, this is the only movie that made me think of over and over for more than a week. I think I saw lots of great movies, but they were not as shocking (in good and bad ways) as this one.
It was painful. But it needed to be so. It needed to be seen. I don’t want to add up to these words, cos this movie is just too good to be explained or written reviews of.
It was just my first trip to Cambodia. The trip changed my life; it made me think of what I am to do in my life. “The Kite Runner” is just like that: walking away from your seat at theatre is not the end of it.
Just like in other countries, Japan also has alternative journalism (yessss ). Days Japan (Its English edition here) is the best photojournalism magazine I know. It is great that the magazine has lasted five years now! Yeeeeah
The commercial journalism just became commercial. At least most of it. I don’t say that citizens’ journalism and alternative journalism are perfect, but they do bring another perspective most of the time.
And for that, Days Japan needs your support! Please support them by reading their magazine, subscribing to it if possible. Please, please
The Economist disappeared from newsstands in Thailand this week after its cover story – critical of the country’s revered monarch – risked landing local distributors in jail.
(for the rest of the story, please click here) （日本語はこちらから）
No freedom of speech. Nothing against the most high.
Again. Just again.
All the recent news from Thailand track down to the monarchy system of the country. It’s just Thaksin vs the monarchy system.
I am from a country that has kept its emperor. This system also is a threat to people’s power, people’s participation to politics. Politics rule the people anyway. Any threat, or even just pressure, to people’s power should not be allowed.
An applaud to the Economist for taking up the topic (The original story is available here). The topic itself is nothing new, but this is the right time to make it a news to get more people’s opinion and attention.
I am pretty happy someone has talked aloud about it. I hope many who think Thai protesters are cool, strong, powerful and yet smiling whatever, should read this story… Of course they are smiling for power and money!
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
· Filed under life, struggle
“Linked?” Yamato, July 07
Siblings. What are they? We are just born or grown up in similar circumstances. Sometimes I wonder why they hurt me this much.
Probably because I expect too much from them? Maybe. Whatever. It’s such a funny relationship, cos it’s so difficult to cut away.
I just think sometimes that it is better to be completely different to understand each other. When the two are similar, or seem to be similar, there’s too much expectation. After all, even if the two are similar, it does not mean they are fine together.
“Vive la difference,” they say. I think this sentence is more often used for clear differences, like gender, age, race. It’s a lot more difficult, for me at least, to say so for people who are supposed to be similar to me… or is that just my expectation?
(Sorry I had not uploaded anything for long! Just so away from computer life lately)
I keep thinking of this song over and over, since I heard it.
And it comes over again. “I belong to me,” Elisabeth keeps singing. I think this is the reason why many people have loved the musical “Elisabeth.” I don’t belong to someone, I do what I choose, I am what I am, nothing that you are telling/hoping to be.
I saw the musical with the Vienna (Wien) cast in 2007 in Osaka, Japan. Everything was good, but this song stayed in me and still has.
I will marry soon, but I just hate how people treat me as if I will be another personality because of it. I belong to me. My last name won’t change anyway. I want a partner, not someone to rule my life or a new/permanent employer. I can rule my life by myself, with my decisions. I know what is lying inside of me is not only from me. It’s from all my ancestors, people they/I met, and from the Highest. Read the rest of this entry »
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
· Filed under life, sapientia
I am one of those people who think this way: There should be beautiful things around to be beautiful.
I do not mean I am beautiful. But I know that when things around me are all dirty, dusty, with no sense or beauty, I start to feel I do not reserve beauty or dignity.
As I am collecting now stuff for our new home a bit by bit, I realised that some stuff I used for years are very beautiful and valuable. It’s quite a surprise.
For instance, the desks and chairs I used at school here in Japan (For the photo, please see here). I took all for granted, but it costs more than 10,000 yen or about 105 USD. They come in very useful sizes, not too big nor too small. Just perfect. It has nothing unnecessary. Good design.
Another thing I really like is this:
For some reason, I really like the logo of the Post of Spain. And I find no beauty in the Italian Post:
I do not know what this “e” is for.
It’s an everyday thing, thus needs to be beautiful Small, but important.
Ringo & Nashi
All the best!
A city without people (Tokyo, July 08 )
), I guess most of the people here choose monologue, no dialogue.
“Linked?” Yamato, July 07
