by WATANABE Hiroshi (Tokyo, Japan)
since January, 2000



to 2004. 1〜
to Japanese version




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2003/11/27 (Thu)
　Renunciation of war is one of few identities of Japanese nation.
　We don't need "show the flag."
　I'd feel proud if they called us sissy.

2003/10/28 (Tue)
　These days I frequently feel I cannot communicate well with others.
　For an example, one day I'd like one of my young staff to do some work, but she's gone somewhere without any message for hours. When she comes back, I ask her where she has been. She says she has been here all the time. She says so several times. I, too, say several times she's not been here. Then she becomes sullen and goes to call me a disgusting man within her young female colleagues behind my back.
　Last week, on one BBS, a Japanese woman poet wrote leprosy was a fatal disease and, about a poem work that had been quoted on the same BBS, the work written by the fatal leprous patient might be touching but it was of no value. So I wrote that leprosy was not a fatal disease, her comment was wrong. But she didn't admit her misunderstanding at all and wrote over and over again on the BBS it was me that was wrong.
　Such experiences have not been rare lately. I wonder if it's an age of too much self-centered people who talk nonsense forever only to protect themselves.

2003/9/19 (Fri)
　It's reported that Koizumi is going to be reelected Japanese prime minister. There's three unattractive challengers, but they don't have power and popularity over Koizumi. Koizumi himself doesn't have a definite policy. He has been saying an administrative reform is inevitable but it's just an excuse to gain popularity. He belongs to the mainstream of Japanese conservatism, so he can't and won't make radical reforms. And he is quite ignorant of foreign policy. He's not able to negotiate with USA, China, etc. Reform of relationship with North Korea could be his only achievement in foreign policy, but it was crushed by neo-con USA.
　Unfortunately, we have only a few able politicians in Japan. Those a few are tired of fighting with no-idea conservative parties.
　I'm afraid politics in Japanese is becoming a mere name.

2003/09/17 (Wed)
　I feel crimes are increasing in Japan these days. Murders, kidnaps, assaults, etc. And about many incidents, we can't understand their reasons clearly.
　Japan has been called an affluent country. In spite of the depression, most Japanese take prosperity and their high standard of consumption for granted even now. If one feels he is not blessed materially, he may think he has the right to pay back by attacking someone who just happens to pass by him. The other day, it was reported that one murderer said that he had no intention of repenting of killing many elementary school children.
　Japan is no longer a safe country.

2003/08/25 (Mon)
　It's been cold this summer in Japan. It finally became hot a couple of days ago. In the end of July our family moved to a redecorated condo near our old one. So we didn't go on a trip. My daughter, Kaoru, goes to play basketball in junior high almost everyday. My 8-years-old son, Maki, goes out to play basketball or Nintendo with his friends almost everyday. My wife and I have been putting the new home in order and busy with miscellaneous formalities. This week is the last one of children's summer vacation. What a cold and busy summer we have had!

2003/07/22 (Wed)
　We're going to move in the end of the month, not on the Internet but on the real earth. We eat and sleep among so many cardboard boxes and empty booksheves these days. I have been living in this condo for about twenty years, so my books, CDs and LP records(!) are beyond count. I've given my friends some boxes of books and LDs, but that didn't make things look decreased. The oldest LP is a best collection of the Beatles, "Oldies (but Goldies)," that I bought thirty-five years ago. And the oldest books are some translations of Erich Kestner's stories for children that my parents bought me about forty years ago...
　But I don't have much time to be lost in my memories. See you soon.

2003/06/26 (Thu)
　Oh, B-B brothers (Bush & Blair), just try to avoid making the same mistake that USA made in Vietnam. Just imagine why your soldiers have been attacked after the WAR. Don't you care how many soldiers and Iraqi citizens are dead because even your distant relatives have not been there?
　Oh, Koizumi, why do you lie to make the Self-Defense Forces participate in the war named postwar reconstruction or peacekeeping activity?
　Oh, B-B-K brothers, Iraq doesn't need you! It's you that need chances of business and military in Iraq.

2003/05/28 (Wed)
　Most Japanese Newspapers have not reported incidents in Aceh in detail. Asahi Shimbun, one of the major papers, said no country in the world doesnt't support the independence of Aceh, and reported short articles based on the statements of Indonesian Government once or twice a week. I imagine Japanese reporters in Indonesia are eating sashimi in the Japanese embassy every day. They are elitist and indifferent to poor people.
　Fortunately, now is the age of Internet. I can read the world news in English. And I can know what world news Japanese papers don't report. So I have come to think that Japanese people might want to know only about Matsui and Ichiro.

2003/05/12 (Mon)
　I've read Tim Robbins' speech. He spoke about the bashing the right to free speech in USA. He and his families didn't lose the courage to fight back the new fascism there. Tim's speech reminded me of American liberalism and cheered me up a little.
　These days I've been thinking about American military and industrial violence over the world, and then learning more about Japanese diplomatic and industrial violence, especially in Asia. That made me melancholic.
　But Tim's humorous and righteous speech encouraged me. Thank you, Tim. I love your movie, 'Cradle Will Rock!'

2003/4/9 (Wed)
　The following remark by Michael Moore is reproducted from some website without permission.
　"We are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame on you, Mr. Bush. Shame on you! And any time that you have the Pope and the Dixie Chicks against you, your time is up."
　I know there's a lot of criticism on his works (Bowling for Columbine and Stupid White Men) in USA, but the criticism can't justify this WAR of aggression. It's Bush that is a boss of war criminals sponsored by the US energy industry, war industry, National Rifle Association, etc.

PS: They attacked Iraqi water treatment plant. I guess Coca-Cola and other water companies were delighted with this attack.

2003/3/29 (Sat)
　It becomes clear that the Bush Administation's aim is to monopolize Iraqi oil. After the WAR, they'll exclude the United Nations and RECOVER and EXPLOIT Iraq exclusively. The bid for the big RECOVERY business already began. Of course, it was in favor of the companies that had been paying tribute and giving bribes to Bush and his high officers.

PS: They said 'depleted uranium bullets' were harmless for human bodies. I won't forget the too silly remark.

2003/3/20 (Thu)
　One of U.S high officers said they would like to arm Japan with nuclear weapons against the menace of North Korea. U.S. in the 21st century forgets their old Monroe Doctrine and world war history, and becomes more intrusive. They forget they're only one country that used nuclear weapons against human beings, or they know nothing about nuclear weapons. If not, they can't say that the nuclear weapons saved U.S. soldiers' lives.
　They think they become an emperor over the world and make boastful remarks like 'decapitation attack.' What a shame, it's a WAR, not a TV game.

PS: "They" can include our (Japan's) prime minister KOIZUMI. He's just a ham who plays enthusiastically only in high-rating TV programs.

2003/3/12 (Wed)
　So many people are against the 2nd GULF WAR, but Bush-Blair brothers make desperate effors to start the war. Probably it's not only a war, but a big money game. The B-B brothers and their patrons have been developing weapons of mass destruction and training their soldiers to be able to kill the total strangers. Their soldiers don't know where Iraq is and who live there. But, with help from too smart computers (probably Microsoft OS), they can launch lots of depleted uranium bullets like Nintendo game players. Maybe the soldiers will not know they kill real persons. Of course B-B brothers won't worry about how many people they kill.

2003/2/18 (Tue)
　I don't care what Bush and Blair said. But I won't forget that Powel said even if U.S. attacks Iraq they won't attack the oil plants. Oil, oil, oil. This 'war' will be a big chance to please the U.S. big oil companies.
　Now Bush might be writing invitations to Iraq 'real war' package tours for oil millionaires.

2003/1/21 (Tue)
　These days I have come to think better of George. Not George W. Bush. It's George Harrison. It's been about ten years after his previous works (Cloud Nine and the Traveling Wilburys' CDs). During these years I almost forgot him. So, Brainwashed, his last CD, is a sweet surprise to me. His last songs didn't change so much, compared to his previous ones. But they're so beautiful and, at the same time, full of his philosophy and sense of justice. It's only George who sings DNA, faith, GCE, Nikkei, brainwashing, etc. on the beautiful guitar music.


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