2010-06-28

The Japanese National Anthem

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.

2010-06-26

Pitagora Switch ピタゴラスイッチ

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

2010-06-23

An Arbitrary Point P

An Arbitrary Point P (任意の点P)
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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2010-06-20

Yoko Ogawa 小川洋子

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 NovellasThe 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 NovelHotel 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]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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2010-06-17

The Wind in the Willows

The Wind in the Willows (Penguin Classics)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.

2010-06-14

Kawasaki City Nakahara Library

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.

2010-06-11

The Crying of Lot 49

競売ナンバー49の叫び
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 49The Crying of Lot 49

Harper Perennial 2009-11-01
Sales Rank : 6480
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2010-06-08

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

ハックルベリー・フィンの冒険〈上〉 (岩波文庫)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)楢山節考 (新潮文庫)

新潮社 1964-07
Sales Rank : 18869
Average Review: 

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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)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
Average Review: 

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2010-06-03

BOULANGERIE Metier

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  VIRONAUX 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.
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