"That is that. The end"

When Tony Blair moved into 10 Downing Street ten years ago, American media was inundated with the news of the President’s affaire with an internship student. Europe was struggling to solve their own prolonged conflict in Balkan, which deteriorated into genocide despite their pledge of “Never again”. And, here in Japan, we were mired in the decade-long recession with any tip of silver lining out of view. The Executive Director of one of the biggest security company knelt down in front of TV cameras and apologized when his company went under in so-called Financial Crisis. We were stunned by this unrealistic footage that the top leader of such a prestigious company wailed and blabbered without an ounce of shame, shouting “Our employees aren’t to blame! It is solely my responsibility!”

We had Bill Clinton in the United States back then, Helmut Kohl in Germany, and Jacques Chirac in France. Our Prime Minister was Hashimoto Ryutaro, if I am not mistaken. A pompous, narcissistic guy with trademark slicked back hair, which I am not mistaken definitely. And in Russia, they had the drunken President named Boris Yeltsin. They have all gone. Some of them literally, ours included. And now, it is time for Tony Blair.

Although his decision to take sides with the U.S invasion of Iraq is considerably questionable when we see the deteriorating situation today, I think that there is no doubt that he is a remarkable statesman who strongly believes the ideas of democracy and freedom. During his tenure, he had taken the risk of interventions to make a difference for the endangered under appalling regimes or tyrants. Successful “humanitarian interventions” in Bosnia, Kosovo and Sierra Leone attest his unflinching conviction that democratic value is universal and we should stand up for it wherever it happens.

One of many things that I learned from the book, “A Problem from Hell; America and an age of genocide” is there was virtually no leader in 20th century who went out their own way to save other countries in the face of genocide or atrocity. I am not naïve enough to believe that Blair acted on just altruistic motives, but, still his willingness and optimism is extraordinary. When he announced his resignation a month ago, he said, “Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right”. It’s too romantic, too emotional, and too lovey-dovey, but somehow, it fits in his character. If I heard it came out of Hashimoto’s mouse, I would be choked to death. Though he has made a lots of mistakes, such as his college year’s band name, “Ugly Rumours” or his choice of wife, he is still a pre-eminent statesman.

So, who have we got now? Bush the lame duck in America, Angela “The Girl” Merkel, “Control freak” Gordon Brown, a real freak Vladimir Putin, and, don’t forget, our conceited, pompous, self-righteous, suburban, chauvinistic, curtain-twitching snob Mr. Abe. What an exciting selection, isn’t it? The next year’s G-8 Summit will be held in Japan. Let’s hope that they are dull and plain enough to discourage edgy demonstrators to run amok here.

Great music

Romance is not my word, but True Romance is always with my heart.
such a wonderful film, such a wonderful music.
Hans Zimmer is no less than a genius.

The season for T-shirts

Summer is coming. It's time to go on holidays, and it's time to wear wild T-shirts!

As you know, I love to put on T-shirts with outrageous messages. Nasty as it may be, I am happy to see people giggle when they notice messages on my chest. On rare occasions, people had spoken to me. One Canadian businessman commented on it in Yamanote-line, "I love your T-shirts!" A stuff at Starbucks where I have my breakfast every morning said, "You must love Ireland. You always put on Irish T-shirts!"

She is right about that. I assign myself to the task of promoting the name of the wonderful country by wearing funny T-shirts. I love Ireland. I want people in Japan to know more about the Emerald Isle. That's why I always go to Voice wearing these T-shirts in the hope that teachers point out in front of other students.

I believe these funny messages on clothes will make our summer more enjoyable. So, why don't you join me?

Tachi-yomi

When I was a student, I was deeply into Philosophy for the time being. Back then, I was totally uncertain of who I am, where I am heading for, or what I ought to be like (I still have this streak, to be perfectly honest).I picked up one Philosophical book after another in the hope that I would come across a certain kind of truth of life or meaning of life in those convoluted books. Surely I was motivated by some kind of pretentiousness to some extent. But I think that my curiosity for unknown things were genuine and justifiable.

I still remember the comments of one Japanese philosopher quite vividly. He argues that there is nothing more important to a philosopher than a wonder that We live here and now and that We will inevitably die in the future. If you realize the fact that We are all mortal, you won't be able to escape from that significant reality for a moment. Whatever you think of or wherever you are, you will be overwhelmed with the miracle of our existence and start thinking that anything else is just either trivial things or sideshows. A philosopher is not a scholar who expounds, dissects, or butchers theories of others. A philosopher is a person who keeps thinking things only from that point using his or her own words.This is not his exact comments, but he said to that effect.

Ikeda Akiko is definitely a philosopher from this point of view. The other day, I happened to take up her book at Kinokuniya book store. In that book, she talks about a variety of matters with decided candidness almost bordering on cruelty. The topics range from politics, education, royal family, history, to feminism, life and death. What I was really impressed with is her absolute consistency. Behind her unrelenting arguments are always her wonder that We live in this time and age and her acceptance that We are all mortal. She is always straight to essences, doesn't give a damn with temporary things, such as fame or status. Most of her opinions might fall into deaf ears because we are busy in pursuing our infatuations in day-to-day life. But this short essay reminded me of the priority of what is important and the wonder that We live now and We are mortal. The more would it be so when we know that she passed away at the age of forty-six this year.

I am pretty sure that there is no translations of her works, which is a pity for Japanese as well as non-Japanese. Knowing wonderful authors sometimes changes or even characterizes your image of that country, as Paul Auster did America for me.

Eiken, English Proficiency Test

I took Eiken, English Proficiency Test, today. Mine was the first grade, which is considered as the most difficult level. I didn't take this test so seriously at all, partly because I got quite good score with TOEIC recently to verify my English level, and partly because I am convinced that after all you can show your English only in real conversation and that this kind of test can't correctly and accurately measure your communication skill. So I went to the examination place without any preparation for it nor any idea of what kind of test it is.

When I started the first part of the test, which was reading section, I was certain that I can easily pass it even with conviction that I could get perfect score! Two hours later, after I was finished with all the questions, which were finalized with listening section, my certainty was waning, and now I am a bit doubtful that I can make it. Cause of downfall? It lays with not my English, but with my personality. To put it bluntly, I got bored.

This is my problem. My concentration doesn't last for more than one hour. In case of TOEIC, the first half of the test is listening, which I got almost perfect scores. Then, my performance of the second half of reading section was just passable, definitely not satisfactory. Before I go to the English test, maybe I need to practice some kind of meditation to sharpen my concentration ability.

Again, I am pretty sure that these kind of evaluation can judge just some aspect of your English communication skill. And, I think that we should be always mindful that language is just a tool of communication, not the goal itself. But, at the same time, I paid 13,000 yen for taking this test, and I am now feeling some kind of defeat, now I have a resolution that I will revenge within this year!

The following is a couple of question in reading section. Have a try!

(1) Despite having been in the fiercest part of the fighting, the soldier emerged ( ).
1 incapacitated 2 deceased 3 embittered 4 unscathed

(2) Although officials deny it, rumors are ( ) that the elderly king is suffering from a life-threatening illness.
1 pallid 2 limp 3 rife 4 torrid

(3 )The new production of Shakespeare's Macbeth was ( ) by critics and, as a result, very few people went to see it.
1 beguiled 2 sanitized 3 conjured 4 lambasted

How was it?

New logo for London 2012

Now, the logo for London Olympics 2012 was unveiled. And as soon as it was announced, there have been huge opposition to this mark, and an online petition calling for it to be scrapped has about 38,000 signatures as of June 5th. Some people say, "ridiculous", "My two years toddler could produce that with her chunky pen".

I think its good logo. It's simple, a bit clumsy but comical. Definitely not futuristic, rather quite old-fashion. But that is a good point, everyone understand what it is. And I think this logo matches TV or video medias because you can easily transform it by adding some images. It could evolve to cartoon character.

BBC said that the Comity of the Olympics consigned to a designing company for this and it cost ￡400,000! This money may well be for responsibility for creating such an eye-catching thing and partly drawing huge criticism for it. I think it's still expensive though.

How do you think of this logo?

Not disaster, it's catastrophe!

I cooked Yakisoba, fried noodle today.
I don’t have any intention to pretend that I am a good chef, but I thought it’s a piece of cake to cook Yakisoba. Put oil into frying pan, fry vegetables such as carrots, green peppers, cabbages, and sausages, add noodles with a cup of water, and fry for a couple of minutes till it is good time to eat. It’s child’s errand. Everyone can do it.

The above picture is a result I got. I can’t wash my pan! While I paid too much attention to Miso-soup which I was cooking at the same time, Yakisoba completely scorched, (rather burned!) to the frying pan, which can’t come off no matter how I polish the pan!

So I got another lesson today. Well mix Yakisoba while you are frying. Don’t add too much water. And, follow a manual of package no matter how small and unimportant it looks!
But, believe or not, today’s miso-soup was fantastic!!!