Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I've been reading Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind by Geert Hofstede and was amazed. In 1809, the nobles of Sweden deposed King Gustav IV, whom they considered incompetent, and invited Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, a French general who served under their enemy Napoleon, to become king of Sweden. In short, the current Swedish King is French and this has been accepted as a fact.
In Japan, on the other hand, many still believe or want to believe "bansei ikkei," i.e., the imperial line has never been broken, and that the current Emperor Akihito is the 125th emperor of such a line traced back more than 2,600 years.
They also believe or want to believe that emperors are "purely" Japanese despite that the imperial family tree of Asuka Historical Museum in Nara prefecture, where the oldest capitals of Japan were situated and the imperial system started, clearly shows that they are from Korea.
Believing in the current imperial line never being broken for more than 2,600 years and that emperors are all "pure" Japanese is so unbelievablet like believing in creationism, isn’t it? And this is more serious than it appears because it suggests that Japanese value purity more than diversity despite another fact that people have to be diverse, not pure, to be stronger and survive in this global world. Look at the end of the Hapsburg dynasty!
Interaction with others make people more flexible, stronger and even purer. No wine can be made without dregs or sediment. What do you think?
「Cultures and Organizations: Software office the Mind（Geert Hofstede 著）」を読んでいてびっくりしました。1819年、スウェーデンの貴族は無能な王を追い出してフランスからナポレオンの部下を招聘したんです。つまり今のスウェーデン王は元を正せばフランス人だってこと。
それに引き換え、日本ではいまだに万世一系を信じている（または信じたい）人が多いですよね。そういう方には是非奈良の飛鳥資料館に行ってほしいです。皇室の家系図が展示されているのですが、天皇のルーツが朝鮮にあることが書いてあります。それに今どき、一つの家が2,600年以上も続いていると信じるなんて創造説を信じるのと同じぐらいアンビリーバブルじゃないでしょうか。でもこれって案外深刻な問題です。だって日本ではいまだに多様性より純粋を重んじていることの証でしょ。このグローバル時代、生き残るためには交流しなくちゃいけないことは自明。ハプスブルグ家の例を見ても分かると思います。
人は交わってこそ強く、逆に純粋になれるのでは？ 滓や沈殿物なしにワインは作れないと思うのですがいかがでしょう？。
Loneliness - Be Alone Not to be Lonely 寂しさを減らす 一人になろう！
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Do you live your own life? Do you do what you really want to do? If you do, you would never feel lonely, so if you feel lonely, you aren't living the life you want.
Next, can you tell why you want to do what you think you want to do? Have you been wanting to do it since you were a kid? If so, maybe you are living your life and may not need to read this post anymore. Keep pursuing your dreams. But if your answer is to be rich or famous, you may need to rethink about your life and goals because being rich or famous can't be what you want to do. It's how you want to be and money/fame shouldn't be what you go after, but be a by-product of what you do. If you don't have enough money to live independently, you may need to do something you don't like, but if you already have a proper house, food and clothing, why don't you stop to think about what you really want to do?
Lastly, what should you do to figure out what you really want to do? I can't tell you this or that, but can tell you at least one thing - Be alone.
To stop feeling lonely, you need to be alone. Sounds contradictory? But as long as you are always with someone, you would only see your reflection in their mirrors, not the real you. So, why don't you be alone to see the real you and figure out your real goals and what to do from the following day to achieve these goals? It may require some courage to face up to what you really are, but is worthwhile as it clarifies the direction and purpose of your life. The only thing you have to do after that is to follow the direction and do what you decided to do to achieve the goals. You will have no time to feel loneliness.
The most important but difficult thing is to find out what not others, but "you" want. So, be alone to have time to be yourself. People usually don't want to be alone, misunderstanding that being alone makes them lonely, but it’s wrong. Being alone is part of the process of reducing loneliness which gives you in return a real and unique life perspective. So, be alone to stop feeling lonely.
By the way, in Japan, people usually see no difference between being alone (hitori) and being lonely (sabishii), which I believe is a major reason for their weak sense of independence, resulting in various social issues, including sontaku and ohitorisama.
孤独対策です。そして早速質問。したいことしてますか。してたら寂しくないと思うので、寂しい人は自分の人生を生きてないってことだと思います。
もう一つ質問。どうしてそれをしたいか説明できますか？子供の頃からの夢？だったらこれ以上読む必要はないかと｡｡。頑張ってください。夢を追いかけてください。でもお金持ちになりたいとか、有名になりたいとかなら、ちょっと違うかな。だってそれって「したい」ことではなく「どういう状態になりたい」かってことでしょ。それにお金ってしたいことをやった結果ついてくるものではないでしょうか。もちろん、お金のために働くことは多いですが、衣食住整ったら本当にやりたいことを考える時なのではないでしょうか？
じゃあ、どうすればいいのか？ああしろ、こうしろとは言えませんが、一つだけ言えることは「一人になってください」ということです。
寂しさを減らすために一人になるなんて矛盾してる？でもいつも誰かと一緒にいると他人に映る自分しか見えないんです。だから本当の自分と目標を見つけて、その実現のために何をすべきか決めるには「一人」じゃないといけないんです。勇気いります。自分と向き合うって結構しんどいんです。でも価値はあります。だって方向と目的がはっきりするともう悩まなくていいですから。寂しさ感じる暇もなくなります。
大切なのは、他人ではなく「あなた」がしたいことを見つけること。一人は寂しいと勘違いしている人は多いですが違います。「一人」になって初めて本当の自分、人生が見えてくるのです。だから一人になりましょう。寂しさを減らすために。
余談ですが、日本ではこの「一人精神」が不足しているせいで、いつまでたっても個人が確立せず、忖度やらおひとりさま問題につながってしまうと考えるのは私だけでしょうか｡｡｡
Do you live your own life? Do you do what you really want to do? If you do, you would never feel lonely, so if you feel lonely, you aren't living the life you want.
Next, can you tell why you want to do what you think you want to do? Have you been wanting to do it since you were a kid? If so, maybe you are living your life and may not need to read this post anymore. Keep pursuing your dreams. But if your answer is to be rich or famous, you may need to rethink about your life and goals because being rich or famous can't be what you want to do. It's how you want to be and money/fame shouldn't be what you go after, but be a by-product of what you do. If you don't have enough money to live independently, you may need to do something you don't like, but if you already have a proper house, food and clothing, why don't you stop to think about what you really want to do?
Lastly, what should you do to figure out what you really want to do? I can't tell you this or that, but can tell you at least one thing - Be alone.
To stop feeling lonely, you need to be alone. Sounds contradictory? But as long as you are always with someone, you would only see your reflection in their mirrors, not the real you. So, why don't you be alone to see the real you and figure out your real goals and what to do from the following day to achieve these goals? It may require some courage to face up to what you really are, but is worthwhile as it clarifies the direction and purpose of your life. The only thing you have to do after that is to follow the direction and do what you decided to do to achieve the goals. You will have no time to feel loneliness.
The most important but difficult thing is to find out what not others, but "you" want. So, be alone to have time to be yourself. People usually don't want to be alone, misunderstanding that being alone makes them lonely, but it’s wrong. Being alone is part of the process of reducing loneliness which gives you in return a real and unique life perspective. So, be alone to stop feeling lonely.
By the way, in Japan, people usually see no difference between being alone (hitori) and being lonely (sabishii), which I believe is a major reason for their weak sense of independence, resulting in various social issues, including sontaku and ohitorisama.
孤独対策です。そして早速質問。したいことしてますか。してたら寂しくないと思うので、寂しい人は自分の人生を生きてないってことだと思います。
もう一つ質問。どうしてそれをしたいか説明できますか？子供の頃からの夢？だったらこれ以上読む必要はないかと｡｡。頑張ってください。夢を追いかけてください。でもお金持ちになりたいとか、有名になりたいとかなら、ちょっと違うかな。だってそれって「したい」ことではなく「どういう状態になりたい」かってことでしょ。それにお金ってしたいことをやった結果ついてくるものではないでしょうか。もちろん、お金のために働くことは多いですが、衣食住整ったら本当にやりたいことを考える時なのではないでしょうか？
じゃあ、どうすればいいのか？ああしろ、こうしろとは言えませんが、一つだけ言えることは「一人になってください」ということです。
寂しさを減らすために一人になるなんて矛盾してる？でもいつも誰かと一緒にいると他人に映る自分しか見えないんです。だから本当の自分と目標を見つけて、その実現のために何をすべきか決めるには「一人」じゃないといけないんです。勇気いります。自分と向き合うって結構しんどいんです。でも価値はあります。だって方向と目的がはっきりするともう悩まなくていいですから。寂しさ感じる暇もなくなります。
大切なのは、他人ではなく「あなた」がしたいことを見つけること。一人は寂しいと勘違いしている人は多いですが違います。「一人」になって初めて本当の自分、人生が見えてくるのです。だから一人になりましょう。寂しさを減らすために。
余談ですが、日本ではこの「一人精神」が不足しているせいで、いつまでたっても個人が確立せず、忖度やらおひとりさま問題につながってしまうと考えるのは私だけでしょうか｡｡｡
Growing Oligopoly - Japan Taxi 寡占化する日本 ジャパンタクシー
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Taxis in Japan have been changing. They used to be generally sedans, but have been replaced by van taxis, so-called "Japan Taxis," manufactured by Toyota. The problem is that these van taxis, which look like taxis in London, have no space for snow chains, so if it heavily snows, these taxis are useless.
What troubles me most is that it's the government that decided to use these vans as taxis knowing they can't carry snow chains. It's also decided to give a grant of up to JPY600,000 (about USD6,000) for a replacement of a sedan taxi by a Japan Taxi. These vans may be more friendly to physically challenged people as long as the weather is fine, but what will happen if it snows, i.e., when the physically challenged most need taxi services?
I know what government officials are doing. They believe that forcing effectively every cab driver to use Japan Taxis, which look like London taxis, will make Japan a developed country at least during the period of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. They don't care about what would happen after that.
Who benefits? Toyota, the manufacturer of Japan Taxis winning this project; tire manufacturers which are now very busy producing as many studless snow tires as possible as quickly as possible for these taxis; and large taxi companies which can afford to dispose of sedan taxis before the expiration of their useful life and can control the taxi market after that. However, what will happen to small taxi cab companies or independent cab drivers who can't afford to replace their cars......?
Is this a capitalism we're heading toward or a state-led oligopoly?
日本のタクシーがセダンからボックスカーに変わってるのをご存知ですか。ジャパンタクシーというそうです。ロンドンのタクシーを真似たらしいのですが、なんと、スノータイヤを格納するスペースがなく、今のままでは雪の日は走れないとのこと。
決めたのは日本政府。ボックスカーに切り替える場合は最大60万円の補助金が出るそうです。ボックスカーが障がいのある方にいいのは分かりますが、雪の日って障がい者の方が一番タクシーを必要とする時だと思うのですが、そこは考えなかったのでしょうか。東京オリンピックにロンドンタクシーに似たタクシーを走らせることしか考えていなかったのでしょうね。でもその後はどうするつもりなのかしら？タイヤメーカーは今、スタッドレスタイヤの受注増加に嬉しい悲鳴だそうです。
一番得するのは誰でしょう？ジャパンタクシープロジェクトを受注したトヨタ、タイヤメーカー、そして大手タクシー会社でしょうか。中小や個人タクシーは補助金をもらってもセダン型からボックスカーに換える余裕はないそうです。
これって政府主導の寡占のような気がするのですが、日本って資本主義じゃなかったでしたっけ？
Taxis in Japan have been changing. They used to be generally sedans, but have been replaced by van taxis, so-called "Japan Taxis," manufactured by Toyota. The problem is that these van taxis, which look like taxis in London, have no space for snow chains, so if it heavily snows, these taxis are useless.
What troubles me most is that it's the government that decided to use these vans as taxis knowing they can't carry snow chains. It's also decided to give a grant of up to JPY600,000 (about USD6,000) for a replacement of a sedan taxi by a Japan Taxi. These vans may be more friendly to physically challenged people as long as the weather is fine, but what will happen if it snows, i.e., when the physically challenged most need taxi services?
I know what government officials are doing. They believe that forcing effectively every cab driver to use Japan Taxis, which look like London taxis, will make Japan a developed country at least during the period of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. They don't care about what would happen after that.
Who benefits? Toyota, the manufacturer of Japan Taxis winning this project; tire manufacturers which are now very busy producing as many studless snow tires as possible as quickly as possible for these taxis; and large taxi companies which can afford to dispose of sedan taxis before the expiration of their useful life and can control the taxi market after that. However, what will happen to small taxi cab companies or independent cab drivers who can't afford to replace their cars......?
Is this a capitalism we're heading toward or a state-led oligopoly?
日本のタクシーがセダンからボックスカーに変わってるのをご存知ですか。ジャパンタクシーというそうです。ロンドンのタクシーを真似たらしいのですが、なんと、スノータイヤを格納するスペースがなく、今のままでは雪の日は走れないとのこと。
決めたのは日本政府。ボックスカーに切り替える場合は最大60万円の補助金が出るそうです。ボックスカーが障がいのある方にいいのは分かりますが、雪の日って障がい者の方が一番タクシーを必要とする時だと思うのですが、そこは考えなかったのでしょうか。東京オリンピックにロンドンタクシーに似たタクシーを走らせることしか考えていなかったのでしょうね。でもその後はどうするつもりなのかしら？タイヤメーカーは今、スタッドレスタイヤの受注増加に嬉しい悲鳴だそうです。
一番得するのは誰でしょう？ジャパンタクシープロジェクトを受注したトヨタ、タイヤメーカー、そして大手タクシー会社でしょうか。中小や個人タクシーは補助金をもらってもセダン型からボックスカーに換える余裕はないそうです。
これって政府主導の寡占のような気がするのですが、日本って資本主義じゃなかったでしたっけ？
Is the Emperor a Human or God? 天皇だって人間だもの
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Why do so many Japanese still revere emperors? They may be good people, but are human beings who happen to born into the imperial family, living as required by law. I feel sorry for them because they are deprived of the right to live as human beings.
Why do so many Japanese still revere emperors? They may be good people, but are human beings who happen to born into the imperial family, living as required by law. I feel sorry for them because they are deprived of the right to live as human beings.
Kyoto - Horinji Temple in Arashiyama and Matsuo Taisha to Avoid Crowd 京都－法輪寺と松尾大社が静かです
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
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| 1. Saki offerings to Matsuo Taisha |
I went to Matuo Taisha shrine in Arashiyama Kyoto on December 30, 2018. I didn't plan to go there, but happened to know that this famous shrine is near Arashiyama, my destination on that day. Matsuo Taisha is famous for enshrining God of sake (or saki) protecting people who not only produce, but also sell or drink sake. It's understandable for the shrine to receive so many offerings from sake manufacturers across Japan.
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| 2. From top of Horinji temple stairs |
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| 3. From Horinji temple viewpoint |
As a sake lover, I had wanted to go to Matsuo Taisha shrine for a long time, but thought it was an inconvenient place to go. I was wrong. The shrine is very close to the very famous tourist site Arashiyama, in which Horinji temple is located. The temple enshrines a deity of electricity and radio wave and I happened to go there to avoid crowd in Arashiyama. After enjoying beautiful views from this temple, not only from the top of its stairs (Picture 2), but also its viewpoint (Picture 3), I again happened to find a sign showing Matsuo Taisha shrine being only 2.1 km from the temple.
If you are now in Arashiyma, but disappointed at the crowd and want to go to a quiet place nearby, cross the Katsuragawa River and go to Horinji temple. You can enjoy a serene atmosphere and in 20 minutes walk, pray to the sake deity at Matsuo Taisha. You can go to Matsuo Taisha shrine also by the Hankyu Line, one stop from the Arashiyama station.
年末年始と京都で過ごしました。12月28日に嵐山に行ったら相変わらずの混雑で大失敗。でも桂川を渡ってふらふらしていたら法輪寺を見つけました。電気と電波の神様を祭っているとのこと。すると何と松尾大社まで2.1キロという標識を発見。歩いて行ってみました。
松尾大社はお酒の神様。お酒大好きな（あまり飲めないけど）私にとっては大事な神様。ちゃんとお礼を言いました。
嵐山であまりの人込みにうんざりしたら、法輪寺、そしてそこから2キロほどの松尾大社はお勧めです。ちなみに嵐山から松尾大社までは阪急電車で一駅。歩き疲れた方は電車でどうぞ！
If you are now in Arashiyma, but disappointed at the crowd and want to go to a quiet place nearby, cross the Katsuragawa River and go to Horinji temple. You can enjoy a serene atmosphere and in 20 minutes walk, pray to the sake deity at Matsuo Taisha. You can go to Matsuo Taisha shrine also by the Hankyu Line, one stop from the Arashiyama station.
年末年始と京都で過ごしました。12月28日に嵐山に行ったら相変わらずの混雑で大失敗。でも桂川を渡ってふらふらしていたら法輪寺を見つけました。電気と電波の神様を祭っているとのこと。すると何と松尾大社まで2.1キロという標識を発見。歩いて行ってみました。
松尾大社はお酒の神様。お酒大好きな（あまり飲めないけど）私にとっては大事な神様。ちゃんとお礼を言いました。
嵐山であまりの人込みにうんざりしたら、法輪寺、そしてそこから2キロほどの松尾大社はお勧めです。ちなみに嵐山から松尾大社までは阪急電車で一駅。歩き疲れた方は電車でどうぞ！