It's a Wonderful Life

　
Midnight documentary.
Ralph Lawrence Carr.  Who?
And I got wide awake and cried.
It's a wonderful life.

3.11後、日本では
「戦争からたちあがった日本人」の特集が多いような気がするんですが。
「忍耐、我慢、復興、乗り越えられる」って。

そんな中、先日
戦時中の米国で、反日感情に反対し
日系人を温かく受け入れたコロラド州知事がいたということを知った。
皮肉だけれど、震災がなければ
彼の存在を知ることはなかったかもしれない。
素晴らしき哉、人生。

The Reader

　　
I grew up with the kid and the dog:
http://tosho.nishi.or.jp/kids/pdf/yondegoran2009.pdf
Didn't know till today that the book guide "Read, it's fun" has been handed out only within my hometown.
　
知らんかった、
「読んでごらんおもしろいよ」が西宮限定やったとは
表紙の子どもと犬の絵、誰もが知っていると思っていたのに。

Red Caps?

I'm entirely for energy-saving efforts in this post 3.11 disaster.  And basically I don't care going up and down crowded stairs.
But after two months, it's getting tough to stay cool with out-of order escalators at most railroad stations in Tokyo, especially when I'm carrying full of holiday goodies from home, D&D pesto jars after work, with stilettos on.

If there were red-capped porters, I would really appreciate.

運動部員やホテル・鉄道業界志望の学生さん、役者の卵を雇うとか。
雇用問題の解決にもなるかも？　
チップ制は日本では浸透しないかな・・・

Wish to Meet

Bonsai artists at Shunkaen Bonsai Museum

Cutlery craftsmen in Tsubame, Niigata

Leek growers in Fukushima and Edamame farmers in Hokkaido.

I'm just in awe with them.　改めて。

Shrimps, Japanese, and Quakes

On and off, the book was on my mind for 18 years.

Freshman, 1993: An Osaka Univ. professor recommended that "Shrimps and Japanese (1988)" along with "Bananas and Japanese" might help get a broad picture of international economics. Looked interesting, but a bit nerdy.

Then two major earthquakes: Jan. 17, 1995 & March 11, 2011

Weeks ago, March 24: It occured to me that I still wanted to read the "Shrimps." Took a chance to walk in Aoi bookstore. Found a copy - it was calmly on the shelf, naturally, sort of - along with "Shrimps and Japanese II (2007)."

うやむやになっていて、18年越しで読んだ本　とはいえ、べつに震災とは関係ないよなぁ　と思いましたが 「II」の第一章で、なんとも言えなくなる