So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

Toru TAKEMITSU 20th anniversary

2016-10-04T20:05:00.000+09:00

I'm going to go to the concert of Toru TAKEMITSU 20th anniversary of death. 20 years have passed since he died. I feel sad every time I noticed that he cannot give us new music any more. Opera city is also called TAKEMITSU memorial. There are the relief of Toru TAKEMITU in its foyer. The poem in the relief is;

できれば、鯨のような優雅で頑健な肉体を持ち、西も東もない海を泳ぎたい。

I'm too frightened to translate the so-called poetry but tried. "If possible, I want to swim with the elegant and sturdy body like a whale in the sea which belongs to neither the west nor the east."

Takemitsu: Green / Arc
	Toru Takemitsu London Sinfonietta 2006-10-01 Sales Rank : 405632 See details at Amazon by G-Tools

Inception

2010-08-17T15:41:00.005+09:00

Inception directed by Christopher Nolan

Last week, I went to the theater to see Inception at midnight showing. Almost three weeks had passed since Inception released in Tokyo, Japan. Nevertheless, many people sat in the theater even late at night.

Inception is a story of layers of dreams. People dream in a shared dream and dream again into a shared dream of a deeper layer and again...

Inceptions shows some rules of dream world. For example, man who dies in a dream wakes up at the upper layer. For example, time passes faster than the real world. And there were many significant words. Despite many hints, Inception deluded me. Because, the movie seems to explain well but it's not so kind. I want to see it again! The impression of the movie still lingers.

I saw The Dark Knight, too. The Dark Knight provided a inextricable question as a last one from Joker. It's so-called "prisoner's dilemma". (I didn't know prisoner's dilemma is a well-known subject of game theory until I read Prisoner's Dilemma written by Richard Powers.) Eventually Christopher Nolan must like elaborate puzzles.

I thought about Inception at the night until I fell asleep "What does the scene mean? What does the words mean? That is to say, ....zzz." When I slept thinking about Inception, I dreamed about sleeping on a light-blue box! If I will practice hard, I can dream about dreaming in a dream?

The Dark Knight (+ BD Live) [Blu-ray]

Warner Home Video 2008-12-09
Sales Rank : 124
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Vineland

2010-07-29T11:12:00.000+09:00

Vineland by Thomas Pynchon

It wasn't easy for me to read Vineland through. I couldn't immerse myself in the world of Vineland as well as V., The Crying of Lot 49 and others.

I suspected the translation version might be the cause of trouble. The Japanese translator was a strong devotee of Thomas Pynchon. His notes were full of the praise of rhetoric Thomas Pynchon spun. I think readers have a right of finding out the riddle by themselves and solving. The translation's notes were so intrusive that imagination of readers is disturbed.

Anyway, Vineland doesn't have distressed feeling like other books of Pynchon. The first half is comical like a cartoon. It's fun and exciting. But the second half is explanatory going for the end of story. Is that Thomas Pynchon? My impression of Thomas Pynchon is that the story goes speedily with unexpected imagination and sly description without changing pitch.

Vineland was published after 17 years when Gravity's Rainbow was published. 17 years is long time. It's natural to change. I'm afraid a little bit to read Mason & Dixon.

Vineland
Thomas Pynchon

Little Brown 1990-01
Sales Rank : 269920
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Neuromancer

2010-07-23T19:34:00.000+09:00

Neuromancer by William Gibson

I like the movie, The Matrix. So, my friend strongly recommended Neuromancer. He said " if you like The Matrix, you have to read Neuromancer. It's the originator of cyberpunk like The Matrix."

I'm not familiar with science fiction. I learned by his explanation that the science fiction such as The Matrix is called cyberpunk. Before, I have seen the animated movie, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. I know the famous Japanese comics, Ghost in the Shell (攻殻機動隊 Koukaku Kidoutai). I've ever read only one comic book of Ghost in the Shell series. I've read the Japanese comics, AKIRA, too. I found out that all of those were categorized as cyberpunk.

In Neuromancer, there are many various city images of Chiba City, the Eastern United States, Istanbul and a space colony. All of them are very likely future scene. The reason is that each smell of regions remains at the future of the cities in the novel. I was excited at author's imagination of Chiba City, because I'm a Japanese. Only the description of Chiba City will be able to shoot a two-hour movie. Eventually Blade Runner was created by only one city of the future Los Angels that was to all intents and purposes Shinjyuku Tokyo. I was overwhelmed by the enrichment of author's depiction of fiction. The author wrote so many new ideas that the novel possibly enables to shot for almost six movies.

Anyhow, Neuromancer was published on 1984 before The Matrix, Ghost in the Shell, AKIRA and Blade Runner. If Neuromancer had been the first time experience of cyberpunk, I wouldn't have been able to follow the description of frequent and quick scene changes of cyberspace. In fact, I've learned the cyberspace visualization without my knowing it.

No matter how colorful idea, I think that the theme of Neuromancer is serious. The main character doesn't care about his body but he exchanges the body messages in cyberspace at the end part of Neuromancer. How inconsistent human beings are!

Neuromancer
William Gibson

Ace Hardcover 2004-11-02
Sales Rank : 22087
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Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence [Blu-ray]
Artist Not Provided

Bandai 2009-01-13
Sales Rank : 9466
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Ghost In The Shell Volume 1 - 2nd Edition (v. 1)
Masamune Shirow

Dark Horse 2004-11-17
Sales Rank : 95472
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Akira Volume 1 (Akira)
Katsuhiro Otomo

Kodansha Comics 2009-10-13
Sales Rank : 25290
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Blade Runner the F [Blu-ray]

2008-12-16
Sales Rank : 37264

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The Matrix [Blu-ray]

Warner Home Video 2010-01-12
Sales Rank : 9155
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Underground

2010-07-06T19:58:00.002+09:00

Underground by Haruki Murakami (村上春樹 MURAKAMI Haruki)

Haruki Murakami is one of the most popular novelist in Japan and even all over the world. However, I don't like him very much. The characters in his novels are apt to turn inwards. So, sometimes I started to get irritated. When I read Hear The Wind Sing, Wild Sheep Chase and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, I often wanted to speak out to the characters "How precious and special you are!" I thought these three books were enough for me and I couldn't get interested in any more. I've not paid any attention when a new his book was released after that.

However, sarin gas attack by Aum Shirinkyo (オウム真理教) disturbed me. It's a terrible discriminate murder. Underground is about sarin gas attack by Haruki Murakami. I don't like Haruki Murakami but I got interested in the incident of sarin gas attack.

In Japan, Underground was published in 1997 as a newly written book of Haruki Murakami. It is a collection of interviews of victims of sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. The Place That Was Promised - Underground2 was published in 1998 as a collection of serial interviews in a magazine. At first, he didn't consider The Place That Was Promised - Underground2 . Haruki Murakami might have felt need of another side of the people who belonged to Aum Shinrikyo.

Translation edition contains Underground and The Place That Was Promised but some interviews of sarin attack victims in original Underground are omitted. Japanese edition of The Place That Was Promised - Underground2 includes the conversation of Hayao Kawai (河合隼雄 KAWAI Hayao) and Haruki Murakami at the end of interviews. Hayao Kawai is not only a famous psychotherapist but also a humorous essayist in Japan. Hayao Kawai mentioned the distance of interviewer and interviewee. It's a sort of technique of conversation. From his experience of psychotherapist, he has a deep understanding of symptom and influences of talking. It's very interesting and makes us relieved. His words are full of affection but calm. I'm not sure, but regarding of table contents, the conversation is omitted in English translation edition. It's a pity.

Sarin gas attack on Tokyo subway was a shocking incident. Aum Shirinkyo was a religious cult that got together highly educated people. I could understand that some educated people kept something they couldn't resolve by themselves even if they studied harder. If someone resolved their inside incongruity, they might have been possibly on Aum Shirinkyo side. They couldn't exist in any area except for Aum Shinrikyo because of their pureness. Haruki Murakami and Hayao Kawai worried that there was no place such people were able to keep alive at the present day.

Underground is not a mainstream work of Haruki Murakami. But I can catch on to the meaning of a previous statement by Haruki Murakami, "I often consider 'commitment' recently. Even when writing, I feel 'commitment' is very important. Before, I felt 'detachment' was important..." He seemed to change the style of writing after Kobe quake or sarin gas attack. If so, I think I'm going to try After the Quake or 1Q84.

Underground (Japanese paperback edition)

アンダ－グラウンド (講談社文庫)
村上春樹

講談社 1999-02-03
Sales Rank : 2406
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The Place That Was Promised - Underground2 (Japanese paperback edition)

約束された場所で―underground 2 (文春文庫)
村上春樹

文藝春秋 2001-07
Sales Rank : 6258
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Funny Road Sign

2010-07-01T10:25:00.000+09:00

What is the turtle on this road sign?

The sleepy turtle may imitate a sloppy student, though I'm not so sure. Does a student of elementary school wear a top hat? Turtleback is strange, too. It's his belly rather than back.

The road sign shows "This road is school route. Drive slowly". The road is placed at the side of off-street. The place isn't busy at all. Who put it there? And why?

The Japanese National Anthem

2010-06-28T13:04:00.002+09:00

During seeing FIFA World Cup 2010, I suspected that people of the world thought the Japanese national anthem seemed to be off-putting. It has solemn sound.

The Japanese national anthem has the unique scales that come from Japanese original scales. Western scales is Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti. It has 7 scales. The Japanese national anthem don't have Fa, Ti. It has 5 scales. I guess that Western people don't get used to Japanese 5 scales.

The lyrics of Japanese national anthem is Tanka (短歌). Tanka is Japanese traditional poem style that makes 5-7-5-7-7 syllables. Japanese lyrics is;

君が代は千代に八千代にさざれ石の巌になりて苔のむすまで.

Translated into English lyrics by Wikipedia is;

May your reign
Continue for a thousand, eight thousand generations,
Until the pebbles
Grow into boulders
Lush with moss.

Tanka might be too short poem for national anthem.

Kimigayo (君が代), the Japanese national anthem, was sung in the period of militarism of World War ll. The country that Japanese military advanced violently don't have good feeling about Kimigayo. So, some people in Japan worry that singing Japanese national anthem at the public space offends neighbor countries. It's the long dispute in Japan. Can Kimigayo be a national anthem even when people cannot sing loudly in some public place? Some people insist that Japanese national anthem should be changed.

Especially, this dispute has erupted in teachers and schools. Teachers and schools cannot settle the robust way of teaching the history of the past militarism in Japan. Some teachers considered that Kimigayo wasn't suitable for teaching at the school because it’s the inheritance from militarism. In fact, I didn't learn Kimigayo at the school, though it's a national anthem.

Recently, people start to forget the World War ll. National anthem dispute tend to decline. Furthermore, Japanese national anthem is sung at every national match. Many people have become to sing Kimigayo without hesitation now.

Pitagora Switch ピタゴラスイッチ

2010-06-26T00:03:00.001+09:00

Pythagora Switch (ピタゴラスイッチ Pitagora Switch) is a TV program of NHK educational channel. Pitagora comes from Pythagoras or Pythagorean theorem. The theme of Pitagora Switch is showing "the way of thinking" for children. We cannot make light of this program though it's for children. Pitagora Switch touches your science mind. It has scientific atmosphere.

The opening of the program is the short film of a Pitagora Device. Pitagora Device is a chain reaction device with something we all use usually.

Pitagora Devices are collected in the DVD books and published.

ピタゴラ装置DVDブック1
佐藤雅彦

ポニーキャニオン 2006-12-01
Sales Rank : 1598
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ピタゴラ装置 DVDブック2
佐藤雅彦

ポニーキャニオン 2007-04-18
Sales Rank : 2733
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I'm not sure the above YouTube video can last in future. The music of Pitagora Devices is provided by KURI Corder Quartet. The supervisor of Pitagora Switch is Masahiko Sato

Pitagora Switch consists of a short puppet drama, short anime, song, and so on. Each part is simple but amazing. My nephew likes Potegin very much. I searched Potegin video but I couldn't hit. Potegin is a cube. You know, a cube has six faces. Potegin rhythmically speak out with using six faces that is written a word. Potegin's chat is like a humming. Start is like that, "Pote, Pote, Pote, Pote, Potegin. I'm a Potegin. Today,..."

10 stick anime. Silly 10 sticks. This is one anime of Pitagora Switch.

Framy anime. It's a heart warming story. This is also one anime of Pitagora Switch.

Pitagora Switch

An Arbitrary Point P

2010-06-23T01:51:00.005+09:00

An Arbitrary Point P by
Keio University Masahiko Sato Laboratory + Norio Nakamura
(任意の点P by
慶應義塾大学佐藤雅彦研究室 + 中村至男)

I don't know what name of the job is the job of Masahiko Sato (佐藤雅彦 SATO Masahiko). He is a guest professor of Keio University. According to Keio University web site, Masahiko Sato is specialized in Methodology of Education and Methodology of Expressing Concepts. What degree can students get at Masahiko Sato laboratory? Master of media arts? Anyway, he is related to creating image or video.

His start is as a CM planner. His work expanded to making video game concepts and producing TV program. Pythagora Switch (ピタゴラスイッチ Pitagora suicchi) is a TV program of NHK educational channel. The TV program stimulates "the way of thinking" for children. It also stimulates adult interest. I like this TV program very much. I think Pythagora Switch represents Masahiko Sato's works. Incidentally, KURI Coder Quartet contributes their music to Pythagora Switch.

An Arbitrary Point P is a picture book of 3D image. He keeps the strong impression for 3D image when he studied with a mathematical reference book. The reference book attached a simple cardboard device for viewing 3D image in order to help student's understanding. An Arbitrary Point P also attaches simple lenses for controlling parallax. The mechanism is simple but interesting. This book is a Japanese book but it includes Japanese and English description, though it's just a picture book that doesn't need any words.

任意の点P
慶応義塾大学佐藤雅彦研究室佐藤雅彦中村至男

美術出版社 2003-04
Sales Rank : 81429
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Yoko Ogawa 小川洋子

2010-06-20T02:30:00.002+09:00

Yoko Ogawa (小川洋子 OGAWA Yoko) is a strange woman. Most novelists are really eccentric but she is seemingly a sophisticated lady. Her face is always serene when I see her on TV programs or magazines. For some reason or other, her novels aren't serene at all. There is poison behind romantic settings.

Pregnancy Diary brought her recognition in 1990. It's the story of two young sisters. The big sister becomes pregnant, then the little sister starts to have bad intentions. The big sister who has a nervous disposition broods with ups and downs specific to a pregnant woman.

The annoyed little sister recalls that the grapefruit from United States includes a material that destroys the chromosome. It's small dairy knowledge she get by any chance. She buys grapefruit imported from United States and makes jam out of them. The big sister who regains appetite after morning sickness eats it delightedly. Because, pregnant woman often wants something sour. The little sister makes and makes, the big sister eats and eats. The little sister tries to dream of the growth situation of the baby but she cannot. She can image only damaged chromosome......

Pregnancy Diary in the following book. I like The Diving Pool, Pregnancy Diary, Dormitory in her early works. The Diving Pool, the translated version, contains all three of them.

The Diving Pool: Three Novellas
Yoko Ogawa Stephen Snyder

Picador 2008-01-22
Sales Rank : 88688
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Some disabled person appears in the novels of Yoko Ogawa. The disabled person accepts his or her situation and lives quietly. He or she is so quiet that he or she looks like a spirit who has a body. Her novels show that body is connected to living. As well, the depiction of eating often appears in her novels. Even if we have to harm our body in order to keep living, we cannot abandon our body. Imprisoned body expands to imprisoned love.

Yoko Ogawa seems to be popular in France. The Ring Finger (薬指の標本 L'annulaire) was made into a movie by French director. I think Hotel Iris are the stories of imprisoned body and love. Two of these are a bit more erotic than other Yoko Ogawa's works.

Hotel Iris: A Novel
Yoko Ogawa

Picador 2010-03-30
Sales Rank : 29879
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薬指の標本 L'annulaire SPECIAL EDITION [DVD]
Diane Bertrand
ハピネット・ピクチャーズ 2007-03-23
Sales Rank : 6608
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The Wind in the Willows

2010-06-17T16:31:00.002+09:00

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Recently I went to my parents home and found my childhood library. It made me feel so nostalgic that I brought some books to read again.

As far as I remember, The Wind in the Willows is my mother's book. I who was very hungry for reading made it my own. However, The Wind in the Willows wasn't very interesting for the child who just learned to read. Dr. Dolittle series are stained very much by cake crumbs or inexplicable fingerprints but The Wind in the Willows is comparatively clean.

This book is a classic children book of England whose story of Mole, Rat, Bader and Toad. I thought that it's obviously for children that animals speak words.

As I read the Wind in the Willows after growing up, I realized that it isn't only for children book. It's a song in praise of country life. I can image the ideal riverside life of England. At the same time, I can feel author's love for small animals. Small animals can hear the nature voice under the care of the guardian of nature. The beautiful countryside view can spin poems. I found out that I couldn't have grabbed the poetic words in the book as a child.

Beautiful story. I want to go to the country in summer of England.

Kawasaki City Nakahara Library

2010-06-14T12:53:00.002+09:00

Kawasaki City Nakahara library (川崎市立中原図書館) is close to Musashi Kosugi station. It's less than 5 minute walk from the station. Like most public facilities are far from the railway station. Close to the station is a good point.

However, Nakahara library's buildings are very old and small. Aisles between book shelves are very narrow. There is no space to sit and read books comfortably. Users have to stand there reading newspapers near bathroom. It's stinky when it rains. The building is old, the bathroom is also old. It's annoying.

The left picture is a wonder sign near newspaper corner. The sign says:

"Please use the stairs seat. Reading space is not enough. We apologize for the inconvenience but would greatly appreciate your cooperation."

It's certainly a great idea, but I wonder why I cannot help being in sombre mood. The staff works hard in the limited facilities.

The left picture is the stairs seat the sign says. It's down stairs. Um. It's like Greek amphitheater. I couldn't take any picture when somebody sat down there. Camera shutter sound would have disturbed them. Because the stairs seat was often occupied, there were few chances.

Study room belongs in another building. Nakahara library has two small buildings. One is for bookcases. Another is for study room. It's inconvenient that users cannot take books to the study room without checking out. In fact, if it rains, users cannot move without getting wet. Users cannot sit and study next to piling up relevant books from bookshelves because there aren't any desks and chairs. Despite those inconvenience, the study room is often occupied as well as the stair seat. Nakahara library has no advantage over other city libraries but there are many users. Stick to it whenever narrow curcumstances, Nakahara library.

Fortunately, the new library will open in 2012 instead of current one accordance with redevelopment of Musashi Kosugi station area. You can see the strange stair seat until 2012.

The Crying of Lot 49

2010-06-11T12:19:00.000+09:00

The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon

The Crying of Lot 49 wasn't easy for me to read. V. was easier for me than The Crying of Lot 49. Why? About Gravity's Rainbow, I don't finish reading it so far. I gave up after reading a quarter of the book several times. Every time I reached the point of a quarter of Gravity's Rainbow, I encountered something which made me get busy or tired. I like Thomas Pynchon but I cannot confess it, because, I'm ashamed that, I've not read all his books completely. A new book, Mason & Dixon, will be soon published in Japan. Boo-hoo. I have many books I want to read.

The Crying of Lot 49 gives readers a big riddle. Each character has each allusive name. What is the trap? I enjoyed straying into the riddle with the main character. All characters who talk to the main character are funny. Weird people in the book are fascinating. There are cute epigrams inserted in places. Metaphor using scientific vocabulary is attractive. I could brilliantly form pictures of each scenery of the book. Each scene is very impressive. But I don't want it to be made into a movie. The writing style of Thomas Pynchon is so unique that other expression can't be replaced.

Next, I will certainly try Gravity's Rainbow.

The Crying of Lot 49

Harper Perennial 2009-11-01
Sales Rank : 6480
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Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

2010-06-08T13:06:00.000+09:00

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

I read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because Kurt Vonnegut often mentioned Mark Twain. Mark Twain is respected as the father of American literature. However, I'm afraid that I'm a Japanese who grew up in Japan. I can understand that the novel written by spoken words was revolutionary at the time the novel was written. The story becomes untidy since Tom Sawyer appears. I felt that the end of the story was messy. I'm sorry to be unable to have respectable feeling for Mark Twain.

However, Huckleberry Finn is very charming. He is honest, rustic and a little timid but he can see the circumstance surrounding him. He chooses to live independently although he's just a kid. Living in society is annoying. I can understand that someone dreams of Huckleberry Finn lifestyle.

After reading Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, I thought of Shichiro Fukazawa (深沢七郎 FUKAZAWA Shichiro). The Ballad of Narayama of the representative novel of Shichiro Fukazawa was made into a movie, which received the Grand Prix at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival. It was a good movie, but I don't believe the movie conveyed the message from Shichiro Fukazawa.

Shichiro wrote rustic local peasants' life. His novels aren't distressing such as the movie of The Balled of NaraYama. Instead, peasants are upbeat and full of vital power. Generally peasants have to obey their landowner. So the actual life of them is similar to slave Jim in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. But then again the thoughts of peasants Shichiro wrote are more close to Huckleberry Finn.

Shichiro respected local dialect and got interested in music and play. He wrote some drama scripts, including the notes of inserted songs. Some points of those are close to Mark Twain's.

In fact, Shichiro Fukazawa now is a forgotten novelist even in Japan.

The Ballad of Narayama by Shichiro Fukazawa

楢山節考 (新潮文庫)

新潮社 1964-07
Sales Rank : 18869
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Essay by Shichiro Fukazawa

言わなければよかったのに日記 (中公文庫)

中央公論社 1987-11
Sales Rank : 61923
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BOULANGERIE Metier

2010-06-03T19:47:00.005+09:00

I prefer rice to bread because I grew up by eating rice. So, I want to eat delicious and crispy bread when I eat. I think the bread that is sold in supermarket in Japan tend to be moist.

My favorite bakery shops are VIRON, AUX BACCHANALES, and PAUL. I've found just now that all are French bakery. Those shops are far from my house, and a little too expensive to eat every day. I wished a good bakery in my neighborhood. BOULANGERIE Metier opened at the rear of Nakahara Ward Office. But it was a shame that it closed at the end of March 2010. I recently found it wasn't closed completely. It moved and the new shop opened some distance away. The shop became smaller.

The bread is delicious. Moreover, it's inexpensive. It's not 'Tokyo price' but local price. Unfortunately, bread sometimes is sold out because the shop is very small and driven by private management. You'd better go before evening. Different kind of bread is baked everyday except for regular white bread and baguette. Try several times!

BOULANGERIE Metier
Address: 中原区新丸子東2-906-14
Tel: 044.789.5752
Open: 10:00 - 19:00
Closed: Monday, Sunday and national holiday.

The Blue Lantern

2010-05-31T16:43:00.003+09:00

眠れ by Victor Pelevin

眠れ is a Japanese edition book of Victor Pelevin. It includes the first half of The Blue Lantern. The second half of The Blue Lantern and The Life of Insects is collected into the Japanese book of 虫の生活 (The Life of Insects). I don't know why The Blue Lantern is divided into two halves in Japanese edition. I think it's a disordered way.

I've ever heard good rumors but not tried. It was the first time I read Victor Pelevin.

During reading the book, I felt dizzy I couldn't perceive where I was in the stories. It's like I have to go forward in a dark and wet cave nevertheless I don't want to go. It's like characters are confined in a resistless environment. Something gloomy always casts pathological sadness. If I let my mind deaf and blind, I could stay alive. However, it's actually tough work letting the mind die, isn't it? I think a person who works in city can empathize the circumstance in the stories.

I read surrealistic stories after so long. It was very, very interesting for me, so I clicked on Buddha's Little Finger that is the most recent Japanese edition of Victor Pelevin. It'll be interesting.

Buddha's Little Finger

Penguin (Non-Classics) 2001-12-01
Sales Rank : 247888
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Blue Lantern

Faber & Faber 2001-03-01
Sales Rank : 2404427

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Tatsuaki Ishiguro 石黒達昌

2010-05-27T12:26:00.000+09:00

Tatsuaki Ishiguro (石黒達昌 ISHIGURO Tatsuaki) is difficult to decide which genres his novels belong to. It's a kind of science fiction, but neither cyberpunk nor science fantasy. Sometimes his novels are classified under horror. It cannot be horror. I think that his theme is to survive with pain.

His novels often mimic medical articles with using medical terms. Through an enigmatic character of scientist, a delusion that the scientist will expose the secret of science is transformed into the delusion that human being wants to stay alive yet. It's the seeking for a soul by science. Or, it might be said to be a mad scientist story. (but not horror!)

At any rate, he is an active doctor, so medical terms are realistic. And, he is an active doctor, so his books are not many. Sadly, only one book ('冬至草') is sold in Amazon Japan. Other novels in Japan are out of print now. What a shame!

The novel that published in 1994 was very avant-garde. It has no title and includes tables and photographs, and its writing style is horizontal writing. Japanese novel is vertical writing normally but the scientific literature is horizontal writing. It definitely simulates a medical report. For ISBN registration, his book title was set the start sentence of the novel. So, the book of Japanese title is long such as '平成3年5月2日，後天性免疫不全症候群にて急逝された明寺伸彦博士，並びに，'. English title is Biogenesis.

Biogenesis and Other Stories is only one book that is translated into English. Tatsuaki Ishiguro translated his book by himself when he moved to Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. I'd like you to read Tatsuaki Ishiguro before going out of print!

Biogenesis and Other Stories

Vertical 2035-12-31
Sales Rank : 6926887

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Happy End はっぴいえんど

2010-05-24T10:45:00.001+09:00

When I saw Lost in Translation on DVD, it surprised me that the sound of Happy End (はっぴいえんど) came out at the end of the film.

Happy End is an old acoustic band in Japan in the 1970's. Each former member became a big musician or big producer and so on. They work at the center of Japan music currently. People say that Happy End is a legendary band that all members are too talented to get together again right now. Members are Haruomi Hosono, Eiichi Ohtaki, Takashi Matsumoto and Sigeru Suzuki. Melancholic and political music like flower children flooded here and there when Happy End appeared. Their music was light, and had dry humor. Some people felt they were a new band, but Happy End weren't in mainstream because of their stance of staying at the cutting edge.

Keiichi Suzuki (鈴木慶一 SUZUKI Keiichi) joined Happy End as a member of backing band. He provides his music to Takeshi Kitano's movie. The other big musicians were related to Happy End. Sometimes talented people interact each other at a very narrow point. Happy End was such a place.

Digitally remastered CD of Happy End

はっぴいえんど
はっぴいえんど

Pony Canyon 2009-02-18
Sales Rank : 70272
Average Review

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Zatoichi sound track by Keiichi Suzuki

座頭市オリジナル・サウンドトラック
鈴木慶一 Sound track

Dreamusic 2003-09-03
Sales Rank : 15506
Average Review

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Kettle

2010-05-21T01:13:00.001+09:00

This is a kettle I use. I'm sorry that it's dirty a little.

I wanted this at the first glance at a shop. It was a bit expensive for a kettle but I couldn't stop taking it to the shop counter. The shape seemingly looks very traditional but has indescribable curve.

After I got home, I knew this kettle was designed by a very famous product designer, Sori Yanagi. His works are like Nordic design style. Simple and beautiful with easy of use.

Sori Yanagi works:

ice cream spoon	soy sauce pot	earthen tea port

butterfly stool	stainless steel kettle	can opener

designshop Japan: online shop of tableware, furniture, watch, etc., designed by Japanese desginers
http://designshop.jp-stores.com/index.html

Kobo Abe 安部公房

2010-05-18T14:16:00.003+09:00

I've loved Kobo Abe (安部公房 ABE Kobo) since I was fifteen years old. He is a Japanese novelist. I believed he would have received the Nobel Prize in Literature. In fact, Kenzaburo Oe (大江健三郎 OE Kenzaburo) was awarded the Novel Prize in Literature in 1994. If Kobo had been alive, he would have won the Novel Prize in Literature possibly. He suddenly collapsed at his second house he used as work room and died in 1993.

Kobo was interested in something scientific and contemporary. He used a word processor from the beginning of releasing personal gadgets even when it was very expensive. It's a landmark case in Japan where typewriter for Japanese didn't exist like alphabetical countries. Other writers criticized him. Many critics insisted that horizontal writing by work processor would have broken Japanese tradition because Japanese literature was vertical writing. Umm... Current Japanese got familiar with horizontal writing by personal computer and many writers use word processors currently. The criticism suggests the old era, doesn't it?

One kind person translated into English at the comment column of YouTube. Please jump to YouTube page if you like. The video was shot at his second house at Hakone. It shows an old word processor and synthesizer. He worked for only things he got interested in. He led his drama group for 7 years. He took somewhat symbolically meaningful pictures and used them in his books. His favorite motif are ruins, garbage collection point and public lavatory. He was very snobbish. I think he was proud of himself. In the above video, his attitude seemed like that he wised up a student. It wasn't friendly. But, private personality isn't the point. I like his works very much.

Kenzaburo Oe continues to make efforts for the Japanese literary world. For instance, he worked as a member of selection committee of Akutagawa Prize. He makes a lot of speech all over the world. Consequently he was able to receive the Novel Prize in Literature by non-writing works. It could be.

The Box Man

Vintage 2001-07-10

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The Face of Another

Vintage 2003-02-04

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Secret Rendezvous

Vintage 2002-07-09

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KNYACKI!

2010-05-14T11:09:00.004+09:00

KNYACKI! is clay animation that broadcasts on NHK educational channel since 1995. It's a long-running program but I've not traced this program very regularly. I love this animation but I miss it often.

NHK educational channel has 5-minute short animation program every morning and evening of weekday. Many short animation programs broadcast in this 5-minute slot. One of them is KNYACKI!. When I tune in to NHK educational channel at 7:55 every morning, it's not always KNYACKI!. Besides, this program often is skipped because of sport event or big news. The day I can see NYACKI! is a lucky day.

Knyacki is an ingenuous and inquisitive worm. His shape is very simple but expressive. He gets stuck in somewhere often. He drops down often. He loses his way often. Very cute! It's a bit difficult to appreciate the magnet for Knyacki without video. However, I'm afraid that KNYACKI! DVDs are all region 2.

Unfortunately a new story broadcasts only a few times a year. The reason may be that clay animation takes an immense amount of time and effort. Production studio is I.TOON.

Prisoner's Dilemma

2010-05-11T18:25:00.008+09:00

I read Prisoner's Dilemma written by Richard Powers. I think that the book binding of Japanese edition is better than the original one.

While reading this, I thought of September 11. I imagined that the author was evoked by September 11. However, I noticed it's written before September 11.

The story is mixed with many matters of history and fiction. Honestly I didn't know perfectly well which is true or fiction. At least, I know internment of Japanese American during World War 2. As well, I know that Walt Disney made propaganda movies. And the others I know are Enola Gay, Fat Man and Los Alamos Laboratory etc,.

The theme of this novel is trust and peace. Mass icon is Mickey Mouse (or, Walt Disney). Personal icon is Daddy of Hobson family. The both of biography is overlapped in parallel. The both get very involved in World War 2. The war is the one of history but it's also a personal incident. Daddy, Eddie Hobson, has something beyond himself but his wife, sons and daughters cannot touch to it by being evaded family's questions. During World War 2, Eddie Hobson tried to proceed to get something better. At the same time, so did Walt Disney. Eddie Hobson goes through life with conflict after the war. But I think that the conflict might be a public matter like Mickey Mouse. Eddie Hobson would be better if he can spit it out. But he doesn't do it.

I couldn't stop reading because I expected Daddy's puzzle was going to be settled somewhere. The parallel structure of the novel compels readers' attention such as mystery. This novel isn't easy to read because it's a long story and included many cultural experiences of old American. Japanese edition has many well-written footnotes about those American culture. Sometimes they interrupted me but very very helpful. I think that young American people need the footnotes, too.

This is a very good novel that should be read by more people.

Prisoner's Dilemma

Harper Perennial 1996-05-22
Sales Rank : 147972
Average Review

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Spotbill duck diary

2010-05-07T21:46:00.042+09:00

There is a comfortable pathway along the Egawa river near my home. It's named 'Egawa Seseragi Yuhodo (江川せせらぎ遊歩道)'. I found spotbill duck chicks in April. 6 chicks and their mother. It was very cute! Chick brothers' size was like a tennis ball.

April 10th, Cold/Cloudy
Six chick brothers stay close mamma. It was very cold and rainy in April. At the evening, I saw that brothers got under mamma's tummy to warm up.

April 23rd, Very cold/Rainy
Brothers got together and slept. Mother stayed alert without a break. It's so cold that they didn't want to go around here and there.

April 29th, Warm/Sunny

Sunny light reflected off the water. I tried to adjust the setting on the mobile phone camera but it didn't succeed.

All 6 chicks are growing up! According to my observation, chicks don't get bigger fast in those cold days.

I found a new family at a time. The family of 4 chicks and mummy. Small and cute!

May 5th, Warm/Sunny
6 brothers has grown up. This picture don't include all 6 chicks but all ones are doing well.

4 brothers are doing well, too.

And I found new 10 chick brothers without mother. I wonder whether 10 chicks will grow up steadily. To begin with, can 10 eggs all hatch in the nature environment? And where is mommy? Small babies swim very swiftly. They immediately go out of the sight of camera.


	May 7th, Warm/SunnyRainy 6 brothers became small ducks. Baby's plumage has turned to adult one. 4 brothers is doing well. Comparing to 6 brothers, they grows up rapidly.

I didn't find 10 brothers again. Instead of that, I found 7 chick brothers without mommy. And 5 chick brothers with mother.

I'm thinking of tottering 10 babies I saw the day before yesterday.

10 orphans has reduced to 7? A stray cat ate them? A crow kidnapped them?
10 chick brothers I saw are actually mixed up two groups? The figures doesn't add up.
Why couldn't I find out mother the day before yesterday?

My observation will be continued...

Lost in Translation

2010-05-06T15:05:00.011+09:00

Lost in Translation (directed by Sofia Coppola in 2003)

I saw Lost in Translation on DVD. Leading parts, Charlotte who is around 30 years old and Bob who is over 50 years old, have sorrow of life. They felt they didn't get anything and reach anywhere right now. They are in Tokyo that provides discomfort because of strange people, strange scenery and strange custom.

I'm afraid that there isn't any witty Japanese in this movie. All Japanese behaviors are queerly theatrical. I understood that. Some Japanese people who can speak English play the personality who can speak English. According to my observation, voice becomes high and loudly. Women's voice turns to high-pitched voice. I think such transformation looks flippant. But, it's a movie. Don't forget many intellectual people who can speak English well!

Anyway, this story is that lonely two souls meet in a foreign country that is out of place and they feel sympathy for each other. It's a kind of I-Novel (私小説). I-Novel is the one of traditional genre in Japan literature that novelists write their private issues and feelings. There is very few accident and incident in the story. I felt that this movie was an I-Novel of Sofia Coppola.

At the same time, the film reminds me of Yoshikichi Furui (古井由吉 FURUI Yoshikichi). I'm not sure whether Yoshikichi's novels are involved in I-Novel. His stories don't have ups and downs. The characters feel that there is nothing interesting and exciting somehow. They get bored as hard as they can.

I'd like you to read Yoshikichi Furui if you like Lost in Translation.

Child of Darkness: Yoko and Other Stories (Michigan Monograph Series in Japanese Studies, No. 18)

Univ of Michigan Center for 1997-06

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キッコーマン醤油さし

2010-05-01T20:35:00.003+09:00

This picture is the dispenser of soy sauce I use. Kikkoman Soy Sauce Table Dispenser. The design is very functional and beautiful. Liquid never drips from its pourer. The shape tapers to the top finely. The curved shape is easy to grip. This product got the Good Design Award of Japan.

Moreover, the price is very cheap! About 200 yen! You can buy it at supermarkets or convenience stores. Marvelous!