In September two typhoons hit Japan. On September 2 Typhoon 12 caused heavy damage mainly to Nara, Mie, and Wakayama prefectures in the southern part of the Kii Peninsula, leaving about 90 people dead or missing. The typhoons also caused deep-seated landslides in the mountainous areas which dammed up the streams there and formed ponds and small lakes. We are worried that these ponds and lakes could be busted by further heavy rainfall. A UNESCO World Heritage Site which spreads across the prefectures has also been severely damaged.
*1Another powerful typhoon, typhoon No. 15, directly hit the Japanese archipelago on September 21. Many prefectures around the country were affected, including the Tokyo Metropolitan and Tohoku regions. More than a million people were ordered or advised to evacuate across the country. In East Japan, nearly all the train operations were suspended or canceled due to a furious storm.
*2
*2Fortunately, the cooling system for the reactors in the Fukushima No.1 nuclear plant was not endangered by the typhoon. However, some temporary housing units for the Great Earthquake victims in Fukushima and other Prefectures were flooded. I’m really sorry for their further suffering.
It looks like 2011 is a time of sorrow for us. However, since there is a season for everything and we have had so many natural disasters and have overcome them so far, I’m sure we can overcome them this time as well, and I'm hoping to have time to laugh in the future. I'm fine so please don't worry about me!
*3For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, an time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
Ecclesiastes3:1-6
*1 Rain by Lakeside, Matsue, 1933
*2 Rain, Lake Kizaki, Shinshu, 1941
*3 Maebashi, Shikishima-Kawara, 1942
Artist: Kawase Hasui （川瀬 巴水 1883 - 1957）
*Unlike in European countries, the USA, and some other countries, the term of copyright protection in Japan is the life of the author/artist plus 50 years
19 comments:
Difíciles momentos del pueblo japonés…la vida se compone de tiempos … de llorar, y tiempo de reír; tiempo de abrazar, tiempo de buscar, tiempo para sentir y amar…
Nunca la esperanza se debe de perder.
Un cordial saludo
Good morning to one of my very first blogging friends. Your post has made me cry. My prayers, my very heart, go to your beautiful country. I feel to say more would be to say less.
With love,
-Suze
I very sorry that your country has recently languished. It's a terrible disaster. I am with you and I hope you'll have peace again. Such a beautiful country you can not get to take everything nice elements. Nature is sometimes more powerful. In our former mode only fools said that now command the wind and rain. Images are an example of art that always admire. One such I inherited from my mother. Guarding him. With great respect, I wish you all the best. At least such calm weather what we have here now. / Peter.
hello sapphire, after the rain the sun will shine again, be well
Oh, I had no idea of these natural disasters hitting Japan. I am so sorry to hear this and hope the dams will hold. There has been too much tragedy this year for the Japanese to have to bear. Beautiful images!
We can hope that these people's suffering will end up soon. It seems to be a huge amount of pain and anguish going around in some areas of Japan at the moment.
Our hearts and spirits are with those who suffer...
But there always a light at the end of the tunnel!
DeeBee
Hi sapphire,
I don't mean to frighten you by this but someone told me that a great change is happening now on a global scale and it started here from Japan and it could be getting worse till the end of next year.
I don't think it's only scaremongering but a whistle blow.
I sincerely hope things won't be heading as predicted.
Sorry if it sounds unpleasant comment.
Take care, sapphire.
Hello Sapphire
Your finishing reading from Ecclesiastes is appropriate and I join in my heartfelt prayers for calm to reign in beautiful Japan and for the sun to shine brighly again.
Helen xx
sapphire, I hope this does not seem intrusive, but I translated your message to cosmos with Google language tools and was led to look up HiFuMi.
I have some ideas brewing concerning where I wish to focus my writing efforts and have some concept of where my deficiencies as an author lie. (It's a challenge to adequately assess our own weaknesses.)
In looking up HiFuMi, I was motivated to pose an inquiry to you. Which stories influenced your paradigms most as a young person (say, 11-15?) Which would you recommend as among those you particularly enjoyed?
Thank you, in advance, for taking the time.
Sneyder, Suze, Peter, effie, Carol, DeeBeeL, and helen,
Thank you so much for your kind words and prayers. I really appreciate it.
cosmos:
not unpleasant at all.
色々なことが来年の12月に関して言われていますね。日本から始まるというのは、「日月神示」が言い出したことですね。コメントありがとうございます。
Suze
You googled it?! WOW! I made a mistake when I wrote the name of the title. We call it either "Hifumi" or "Hitsuki". I had no idea that its contents have been available in English. The original book was written in a mysterious language; some chinese characters + figures + signs + some modern Japanese. I have no idea that its translations into modern Japanese are good or not. Honestly speaking, I'm not fond of so-called oracles. If you are interested in it and like to read it in English, of course you can do it. However, I cannot guarantee the truth of its contents. I hope you will understand what I mean.
大野分が 駆け抜けてゆきましたねぇ
個人的には 今回よりも 12のほうが危機的でした
通勤途上 突風に吹き飛ばされそうに＾＾ヾ
警報出してほしい～って思っていたら
竜巻警報が出ていたそうです。。
きのうきょうの空は 爽やかですね＾＾*
I feel the events that pass by,
and I hope the typhoon subsides.
I like paintings are, they are very tender.
吟遊詩人さん
関西は12号のほうが大きな被害が出ましたね。関東は15号が大変でした。電車が止まってしまって。「行けるところまで運転します」って駅でアナウンスしていました。そんなのアリ？「悲しいお知らせがあります。横浜行きはどの路線も止まっています」これ本当に駅でアナウンスしていたスゴイ表現です。コメントありがとうございます。
Beatriz
Long time no see, Beatriz.
Thank you so much for your kind words. The images are woodblock prints by Kawase Hasui.
The author(s) of Ecclesiastes maintain(s) that it all ends in death. The Good and the Evil both die. Sounds meaningless and senseless, doesn't it? Yet we find ourselves on this volatile planet, in the midst of a temperamental Mother Nature. There is beauty and destruction. Human kindness and cruelty. A time to do this and a time to do that. I cannot help but believe that it is up to each of us to create meaning. I've heard it said that the actual deed of saving one life saves the world entire, and that whoever destroys one soul, destroys a whole world. Maybe each human being is up against limited time and challenges in order to choose between one of these: creation or destruction. Who knows?
*hugs* to you, Sapphire. May there be much happiness for the people of your country very soon.
Prayers,
Defer
Hi Rouchswalwe,
If you quote “To be, or not to be: that is the question” in you posts, I suppose you are not going to discuss the whole Hamlet or Shakespeare’s philosophy. One of the points that I want to say in this post is just “For everything there is a season” because typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis are beyond human control. “I cannot help but believe～ creation or destruction.” ← I can understand it very well. However, I would think that Ecclesiastes has some deeper meanings than your own interpretation. I know that Eeclesiastes lends itself to many interpretations and that some people felt uncomfortable with it, though. Ever since I myself experienced the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, my way of seeing the world has changed. Not only I but also many of us have come to see things in a different light since 1995 and especially since March 11, 2011. I think what you think of it depends on you how you feel about the whole book because spiritual backgrounds and life experiences differ among people. Thank you so much for sharing your different view. I appreciate it.
Defer
Thank you so much for your kind words, Defer! I'll post about the 7
next time.
Although there may be a time for everything, it doesn't make things easier. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your fellow citizens, and your beautiful country.
Dear Sapphire, it is so sad to hear such bad news! My heart is feeling with you!
I believe in the Tao and that everything changes, and that Yin changes to Yang (and back). To hear that you are safe is the little white spot in that sea of darkness on the Tao symbol. I wish you all courage and confidence and strength. Britta
Maggie
Thank you so much for your prayers. "it doesn't make things easier" It is true but you may be very surprised to know that not all but many of us have always been very positive in the midst of disasters.
Britta
Long time no see, Britta.
Thanks so much for your encouragement. "everything changes, and that Yin changes to Yang (and back)" I really hope so though it looks like Japan's Yin has not yet begun to change...But I want to believe a tiny tiny white seed lies in the Yin(smile).
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