Mum Memorial

Changing & Unchanging Japan

My former boss recieved a Japanese knighthood from the emperor. Another, whom I thought hated me, kindly asked after my health. And yet another invited me to an ancient Japanese Noh play.

Tonight “Sayanara.”

Lost Key

Gone again, itself a reserve copy for the one I’d lost the previous week! Where was my key? The bike was now locked immobile with a chain. I hunted about my room. — I even checked the deep freeze in the fridge; that was where I’d found it the last time I’d lost my bicycle key. No luck.

So, I must walk the 1km to work. Pleasant enough, passing through the endless tapestry of a Japanese city. Children cavorted in the nearby schoolyard, and a bicycle jangled by in a swift hush, the determined mom peddling her two kids, eyes a wandering. Incense wafted across the road near the rail line and a clasped hand old lady prayed for the newly dead. I reached the bike shop near the school, asked and the guy, and he told me that he stayed open till seven. Japan could have the most successful city life to be found anywhere.

I finished my lesson. Near one hundred students, or so the university list counted: we did LIFE and dreams, that sort of thing. Anyway, lunch was due and I duly set off to the friendly kisoten. The plan was from there to return the kilometre to my room, and once there make a proper search for my bike key. However, this was not to be. Two agent ladies for Nissay, a Japanese insurance company, bid me jump in their Toyota and they would drive me back to Kita Ogi. They would not have found my room and so I asked to be dumped at Ogi Station. We exchanged name cards and I bid them farewell with a wave.

Walking briskly toward my room I made a sudden discovery — my belt pack was missing. This had my house key, everything. Now I was missing two keys. And where was my backup (house) key? Of course … back at the university! So again I must walk to school. First I dumped my loaded bag on the roof of the cycle-shed. I forgot that inside included the rent video I was supposed to return that day. I was still thinking lunch, but my money was in the missing fanny pack.

After another haul I found myself back at my office. No bum bag apparent, but a message was on the answering machine. It was the Nissay ladies; they asked me to ring them back. But I didn’t have their number … it was back in Ogi, in my bag, atop the cycle shed!

I picked up my backup (house) key and once again set off the kilometre to my building, where I pulled my briefcase off the shed roof. Reconnected with my Nissay card, I could now phone them from my newly reopened room. They told me they had deposited my belt bag back at the university!

Right – I sat down and thought it time to make a proper search for my bike key; I could also grab a sandwich. However not to be. Immediately the phone rang and the university’s professor wanted to see me at 13:30 – sharp. God, that was in 14-minutes! No sandwich then. I abandoned the fruitless bike key search and grabbed some coins. To save yet one more hike later that day, I decided to get the lock cut off. That meant I must drag the wretched bike to the bike shop, no easy thing with the wheel locked as it was. Backbreaking, I finally stumbling into the shop, and with but minutes to spare for the meeting the man cut the wheel clear. [300 yen]

After al that, the professor called to postpone till 16:00. Good, I could now go for lunch and at the same time borrow a video for the night. En route I stopped again at the cycle shop — more air in my soft tires. [No charge] Now with time to kill I set off for Yamada Denki, a huge electric shop, and purchased 20 DVDs. With these I did duping until the 4:00pm meeting. Finally, the grant application was finished and gotten off to the Japan government.

I picked up my wayward fanny pack from the office and was about to ride home when I noticed I had a flat tyre. I pushed back to the cycle shop but far from closing at seven he must close right now. No option I must leave my bike there and again walk back to Ogi!!

Next morning (earlier) I must return to the bike shop; too early in fact for it to be open yet. So, I returned my latest video, a further walk into town. {My class lesson was part this ‘Lost Key.’} And what did I find in my bag when I opened it? The other video from 2 days before! So I must return again to the video shop. But first I must retrieve my bicycle.
Right near the shop a car stopped. It was the Nissay ladies. Did I want then … “A lift to Ogi?”

My student: And the History of China

My Dear student of China,

Yes, I agree. Much of Education is indeed a “waste of time.” How much of your many years of schooling do you now remember, a? Our focus was not life, but LIFE!! Thank you for your fine report, and the even finer spirit behind it!

Now something very serious. (No, not you!) West China is slipping into chaos, Few seem to understand how dangerous this is. At present both sides Han and Uhigirs are shouting at each other words such as “hate.” Relations have broken-down.

What to do? What to do?

Authorities there have scant idea, save increased repression, which would certainly lead to condemnation by the whole world. China could be facing suicide bombers, etc., and within the next year or two. Once the Dalai Lama dies (in the next few years) then all bets are off. For that would throw Tibet into play, and that means 40% of ALL China. That is where things are heading right now.

Can you believe student of China that you can help such a terrible situation? Of course not. Or that Kobe could possible hold any helpful answer? Of course not. However, I dare to say “Yes.”

I may only be an English teacher to you, but I hold extraordinary qualifications in this area. Yes, really. For example: I created in Alaska ‘Reconciliation Day’ (between Eskimo, Indian & White). A simple culture based school curriculum can balance things out nicely, and to all parties, including the People’s Republic of China..

Our University has the honour of over 500 students of China. This is a powerful grouping. I would like to do a small lecture to you all. Place: ‘The Chinese Residents Museum’ of Kobe; it’s in Motomachi. If they could agree with my analysis, then they would contact the Consul-General of China, in Osaka. Seek his sincere consideration. Ten together work-up a proposal for the central government in Beijing.

It is the very best thing they could do, for a peaceable and happier China in the future. This of course is also of course your future. And as you may know student of China, I look to the happiness of all students – don’t I!

So are you interested?

Meegan

Oh, and escape is the best adventure.
“Bravo” student of China to escaping even one lesson!

An A-Bomb Survivor …

I am sometimes privilaged to meet extraordinary people. Yesterday I was at a college {Kyodogakuen Co-operative} and there shown a plant. This was grown from a seed, one newly discovered at the site of the A-Bomb [Pika Don]. The remarkable lily had re-emerged. ”It’s a third bloom,” I was told. The symbolism was hope. Hope in a world which has effectively learnt nothing.

Immediate post War over 1,000 other Atomic & Hydrogen explosions were quickly released, endlessly tested.

Mr. Takemoto was with us at the college that day.  Mr. Takemoto is one of the world’d luckiest people. Survivor. Somehow the blast the fireball. He was at 1,000m from Hiroshima ground zero.

The rain fell peacefully, yesterday on Japan.

I guess this must be a title?

Well, this is a special day for me. For the first time I took a look at this, MY blog! Daughter Ayumi’s been doing this for me; I could never really stomach it. Well, I mean,  rather than gazing into a screen, I’d rather  go outside and get an icecream!

Still, now I’m slowing down … after 56-years of non stop, hellbent, that which we call LIFE, the time has come to get a get a grip of this blog lark, pull something together out of the tumbling wonder of it all.

I’ll be in touch.

George Meegan