Rescue Dogs

Mr Obama made the promise of a new pet to Malia, 10 and Sasha, seven, in an election victory speech broadcast. "I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House," he told his daughters.
Mr Obama said there were two priorities: to have a "hypoallergenic" breed that sheds less hair, because daughter Malia has allergies, and to have a rescue dog.
The problem, he said, was that lots of rescue dogs are "mutts like me" - a reference to his mixed ethnic background - rather than specific breeds.
Hypoallergenic options could include a labradoodle - a cross between a Labrador and a poodle - a schnoodle (schnauzer and poodle), or a cockapoo (cocker spaniel and poodle). Malia, however, is rumoured to favour a goldendoodle - a poodle crossed with a golden retriever.

Above are quoted from BBC news. Rescue dogs are rescued dogs, not rescuing dogs like St. Barnard. More than 200,000 dogs and 300,000 cats are killed in administration centers in Japan. I feel so sad. Obama should have chosen a rescue dog. If his daughter has allergies, he should give up having animals. They are celebrities.

My parents-in-law had a Doberman Pinscher and after a Labrador Retriever. They gave up another because they have no confidence to keep it. My family could not have a dog as my son has allergies. This news that a goldendoodle is hypoallergenic must be top secret for him.

The Tale of Genji

It is said that the Tale of Genji was presented to Ichijo Tenno by Michizane Fujiwara in November 1008. There are many events celebrating this 1000 year anniversary of publication.

Murasaki Shikibu was a home teacher serving for Chugu Shoshi (an empress of Ichijo Tenno, daughter of Michizane Fujiwara). Sei Shonagon was also a home teacher serving for Chugu Teishi (another empress of Ichijo Tenno, sister of Korechika Fujiwara).
Both ladies were rivals. Moreover Korechika Fujiwara was a political opponent of Michizane Fujiwara. The present was took advantage in these situations.

When I learned Kobun, Japanese Classics, in my high school days, I had no interest in them. I was fed up with old grammar, meanings of words, etc. I like reading Japanese Classics now, as I do have the motivation to read them. The most important thing is the motivation. It is most difficult to let my son learn at the desk.

Cotswald

I visited Cirencester, Barnsley, Bibury, etc. so called Cotswald. It was so peaceful place. I felt I could hear Beethoven's Symphony No.6 "Pastorale".
Early in the morning, though it became bright after 7:30, I enjoyed jogging around the hotel. A lot of birds, cows, trees, flowers welcomed me.
Nice place to visit, but qustion mark for living?. It was so hard to access internet. I could enjoy nice beer with fish and chips, but whatelse?
This is an urban visitors feeling. Residents in these area could enjoy fishing, horse riding, playing golf, reading, walking, listening to music, etc..There is another life style. Flower blooms where it is planted. (人間至所在青山）

Wiesbaden

I visited Kaiser Friedrich Therme (http://english.wiesbaden.de) at Wiesbaden in Germany. I was astonished that users were all naked,both men and women. I know some hot springs in Tohoku region where mixed bathing is popular. Oriental people feel ashamed with being naked in public, especially women. But German gentlemen and ladies seem unconcerned for nakedness. I felt a culture shock.
Wiesbaden is famous for its thermal springs and spa. Use of the thermal springs is first documented by the Romans. Among visitors to the springs were Goethe, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Richard Wagner, and Johannes Brahms. Fyodor Dostoevsky suffered from an acute gambling compulsion, he lost all his travel-money in Wiesbaden in 1865. He summed up his experience in his 1866 novel "The Gambler" (Russian Игрок), with a fictitious place "Roulettenburg".
It is a casual coincidence for me. I am now reading Dostoevsky's "The Brother Karamazov". I am very happy that Dostoevsky enjoyed the same springs.

Flamenco

During my stay in Madrid, I visited a Tablao, Cafe de Chinitas and enjoyed Flamenco. Dinner starts around 9 pm in Spain generally and the show starts from 12 pm. Diego Liori and Rosario performed splendid dance at the night. It is really a kind of art.

This reminds me of a movie, Carmen (1983) in which Antonio Gades, Christina Hoyos, Laura del Sol, Poco de Lucia etc., the best members at those days played. I tried to buy it in Amazon, but it has become a premium one.

"Carmen" is also famous as a French opéra by Georges Bizet. Carlos Kleiber's one is one of my favorite music.

"Flamenco" grew out of the unique interplay of native Arabic, Andalusian,Sephardic, and Gypsy cultures that existed in Andalusia prior to and after the Reconquest.

There are many Japanese who are attracted by Flamenco and Spanish food. We could now easilly enjoy Spanish taste here in Tokyo. Where to go?

Alps

Long time no see. I was on business trip to Spain, Germany, and UK.

When I went from Madrid to Frankfurt, I could see Alps mountains from the airplane.

It was so fantastic. I don't have special hobby for climbing mountains, but I would like to visit once in my life.

There are many mountain railways. The Glacier Express is the most famous express train which connect the two major mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps .

Davos conference is held near St. Moritz. I might not be eligible to join it, but I will visit Alps one day.

German Reunification

The 3rd of October is a national holiday celebrating Reunification in Germany.

German reunification took place on 3 October 1990, when the German Democratic Republic (GDR / East Germany) joined the Federal Republic of Germany(FRG / West Germany). It started with symbolical event, the collapse of Berlin Wall. When the East German government announced on November 9, 1989, after several weeks of civil unrest, that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin, crowds of East Germans climbed onto and crossed the Berlin wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere.

Germany is one of the most advanced country in terms of guarantees of workers' rights. Before the World War II, the National Socialist German Worker's Party ( the Nazi Party ) had enacted various laws protecting workers' rights. They could or have to take leave for some period a year under the concept of work sharing.

I will visit Frankfurt am Main next week. I have some troubles due to above German situations.

The Brothers Karamazov

Do you know how many brothers Karamazov have ?

The Brothers Karamazov is the final novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky, and is generally considered the culmination of his life's work.


I learned that the new translations by Prof. Ikuo Kameyama with 5 sets of pocket book are a million seller. I listened to his lecture for the novel in radio. I started reading his new translations of The Brothers Karamazov. It is actually very easy to read them.


I read Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment in younger days with tough perseverance. It was very difficult for me to understand Russian background in late 19 century. Even though, Raskolnikov, the main character of Crime and Punishment was so impressive and attractive for me.


Prof. Ikuo Kameyama is now translating Crime and Punishment, it is said in his blog Cafe Karamazov ( http://karamazov08.blog17.fc2.com/ ). Which will become first, his publishing or my completion of reading ?

Manga

Manga in Japan is not cartoons, comics, funnies, nor caricature. It is similar, but different. There is the cultural tradition starting from Choju Giga （鳥獣戯画）in Heian Era, Toshusai Sharaku（東洲斎写楽）in Edo era, succeeding to Osamu　Tezuka（手塚治虫）、Hayao Miyazaki（宮崎駿）. It is not subculture, but culture itself.
I was so happy that I grew up with Tezuka's works like 鉄腕アトム (Mighty Atom or Astroboy), ジャングル大帝　(Kimba the White Lion), 火の鳥 (Phoenix),etc. He is one of my respectable mentors.
Seirei no moribito （精霊の守人）had been on air from April to September in NHK. Its original is a novel written by Naoko Uehashi, who is famous for fantasies, novels for children. The animation was so beautiful and artistic with detailed depictions.
The original are composed of 10 books. I am looking forward to sequels, Season II.

Second House's Vote

The New York Times reports,on September 29, 2008, "In a moment of historic import in the Capitol and on Wall Street, the House of Representatives voted on Monday to reject a $700 billion rescue of the financial industry.Supporters of the bill had argued that it was necessary to avoid a collapse of the economic system, a calamity that would drag down not just Wall Street investment houses but possibly the savings and portfolios of millions of Americans. Moreover, supporters argued, a lingering crisis in America could choke off business and consumer loans to a degree that could prompt bank failures in Europe and slow down the global economy. Opponents said the bill was cobbled together in too much haste and might amount to throwing good money from taxpayers after bad investments from Wall Street gamblers."
I do second the vote by the House of Representatives and agree with the opinions of opponents. Actually the financial market must be one of the most important industry, but these crisis came from the failures of investment. Investors should bear their responsibility.
I am afraid Japanese government could not make above judgement in fair points of view. USA will keep the position of the leader of the world.

Governmental Accounting

When I learned governmental accounting in USCPA examination preparation in 2001, I thought why this system was not been adopted in Japan.
The governmental accounting system has a different focus for measuring accounting than private sector accounting. Rather than measuring the flow of economic resources, governmental accounting measures the flow of financial resources. Instead of recognizing revenue when they are earned and expenses when they are incurred, revenue is recognized when there is money available to liquidate liabilities within the current accounting period, and expenses are recognized when there is a drain on current resources.
Nowadays not only Ministry of Finance but also Tokyo Metropolitan Government have published their financial statements. I do appreciate their tries.
MOF = http://www.mof.go.jp/jouhou/syukei/fstop.htm
TMG = http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/INET/KEIKAKU/2008/09/70i9g200.htm
If the governmental accounting system is regulated in future, budget control will become more smoothly operated and fiscal year concept will be weakened. Unnecessary engineering works at the fiscal year end and wasteful expenditures will be dramatically less. I strongly recommend Liberal Democratic Party or Democratic Party of Japan to adopt it in their manifests.

Last Shogun

I enjoy "Atsuhime", NHK's historical drama. I read again Ryotaro Shiba's "Saigo no Shogun" (Last Shogun), which is a story of the 15th (=last) Shogun, Yoshinobu Tokugawa (1937-1913).

He succeeded the Tokugawa shogunate and soon returned back political power to Tennou in 1967 . After resigning in late 1867, he went into retirement, and largely avoided the public eye for the rest of his life. Shiba wrote that he was so talented and he must be the best contributor for peaceful Meiji Restoration.

Both Shintaro Abe and Yasuo Fukuda resigned prime minister in short period. There is so much difference between Yoshinobu and them. They just gave up their capability to maintain administration, while Yoshinobu sacrificed his talent to hand over to next era. In financial world, Nomura or Mitsubishi Bank start playing important rolls. I hope Taro Aso ( be careful to pronounce, not "asshole" ) or Ichiro Ozawa will lead Japan and the world in political field.

Suteishi

"Suteishi" is a word used in Igo game, which means a sacrifice stone. Itself will be taken, but it will play a very functional roll to gain the initiative.

I sometimes play Igo game with my son, who is much stronger than I. He gives me 4 stones handicap. After I learned "Suteishi" thanks to Michel Redmond's Igo lecture, I could win him a lot.

Yuta Iyama, 19 years old challenger, won the second game in Meijinsen ( Master tournament ) again with Cho U, 28 years old defending champion yesterday.

Yasunari Kawabata (1899 - 1972), Nobel prize-winning novelist, loved Igo so much and published "The Master of Go" in 1951, which he himself considered his finest work. It was the last game of the master Shūsai's career and he lost to his younger challenger, to die a little over a year later. Cho U Meijin is still so young. I hope their hot games will increase fans of this so intellectual game.

Investment Bank

Investment banks help companies and governments raise money by issuing and selling securities in the capital markets (both equity and bond), as well as providing advice on transactions such as mergers and acquisitions. This functions are played by securities companies like Nomura, Daiwa, Monex, etc. in Japan.

In New York, on September 15, 2008, Lehman Brothers Holdings announced it would file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection citing bank debt of $613 billion, $155 billion in bond debt, and assets worth $639 billion. On September 16, 2008, after an AIG liquidity crisis following the downgrading of its credit rating, the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank stepped in to prevent financial collapse of the company. The Fed announced the creation of a credit facility of up to US$85 billion in exchange for warrants for a 79.9% equity stake and the right to suspend dividends to previously issued common and preferred stock.

What's the difference between Lehman Brothers and AIG ? LB is an investment bank and AIG is a conglomerate of insurance finance services. The key of judgement whether public rescue is required or not is the influence volume of counter parties, an analyst says. The core competence of investment bank is brokerage service and trading. Collecting money, then investing it. No big assets are required. Only excellent fund managers and traders are required. They will move to other banks to look for higher revenue after bankruptcy. Invisible hand of God ?

Strong in the Rain

"Strong in the Rain" is one of the most popular poem of Kenji Miyazawa 宮沢賢治　(1896-1933）. Coming September 21st is the anniversary of his death. In my junior high school days, my teacher let us read this poem every morning before starting classes during the second term. I do appreciate this education.

I found an excellent translation by Roger Pulvers, thanks to my son.

Strong in the Rain

Strong in the Rain
Strong in the rain
Strong in the wind
Strong against the summer heat and snow
He is healthy and robust
Free from all desire
He never loses his generous spirit
Nor the quiet smile on his lips
He eats four go of unpolished rice
Miso and a few vegetables a day
He does not consider himself
In whatever occurs… his understanding
Comes from observation and experience
And he never loses sight of things
He lives in a little thatched-roof hut
In a field in the shadows of a pine tree grove
If there is a sick child in the east
He goes there to nurse the child
If there’s a tired mother in the west
He goes to her and carries her sheaves
If someone is near death in the south
He goes and says, ‘Don’t be afraid’
If there are strife and lawsuits in the north
He demands that the people put an end to their pettiness
He weeps at the time of drought
He plods about at a loss during the cold summer
Every body calls him ‘Blockhead’
No one sings his praises
Or takes him to heart…

That is the kind of person
I want to be


雨ニモマケズ

風ニモマケズ

雪ニモ夏ノ暑サニモマケヌ

丈夫ナカラダヲモチ

慾ハナク

決シテ瞋ラズ

イツモシヅカニワラッテヰル

一日ニ玄米四合ト

味噌ト少シノ野菜ヲタベ

アラユルコトヲ

ジブンヲカンジョウニ入レズニ

ヨクミキキシワカリ

ソシテワスレズ

野原ノ松ノ林ノ 蔭ノ

小サナ萓ブキノ小屋ニヰテ

東ニ病気ノコドモアレバ

行ッテ看病シテヤリ

西ニツカレタ母アレバ

行ッテソノ稲ノ朿ヲ負ヒ

南ニ死ニサウナ人アレバ

行ッテコハガラナクテモイヽトイヒ

北ニケンクヮヤソショウガアレバ

ツマラナイカラヤメロトイヒ

ヒドリノトキハナミダヲナガシ

サムサノナツハオロオロアルキ

ミンナニデクノボートヨバレ

ホメラレモセズ

クニモサレズ

サウイフモノニ

ワタシハナリタイ