Thank you for coming. These are tiny memos of my daily life.


Passing leisure hours, I happened to write what I think in my daily life....
By Monk Kenkou, one of the most famous essayst in the 14th century

I n d e x



31. New Treatment

As I had a small tumor like a pimple on my back, I went to see a skin doctor. He cut my back by a few centimeters and fixed it again by a few stitches. After this operation, the doctor treated the wounded part by the way which was out of my imagination. I expected that the doctor should put some anti-festering paste, patch gauze and recommend me not to take a shower at least one week or so. However what the doctor did and said were different. He just patched gauze on it and said the next day I could take a shower. As I gazed him with suspicion, he explained to me that this was the recent way to treat.

Then I reminded of the article that I read at the waiting room of this hospital. It explained the recent treatment. If we are wounded and the wounded part would be dirty, we should clean it up firstly. After this, we should wash the wounded part using tap water. We should not use the disinfectant, because it would destroy our calls, which are useful to cure the wounded part. The ability of tap water for sterilization is not always inferior to that of the disinfectant. All of them are quite new knowledge for me.

However if these are true, it mean that we should cure our wounded by ourselves through using natural power. In addition, the article said that this natural treatment could cure the wounded part faster and cleaner than the conventional treatment. I noticed that the most of patients coming out from the doctor's room wore transparent film on their wounded part.

This is the good example that yesterday's common sense would easily be turned to be lack of common sense.

(October 18, 2005)




30. Post Privatization

September 11, 2005 is the day, when five years have passed since the mass terrorism to the US. However, September 11, 2005 has another meaningful day for Japan. It is the vote day of the general election, of which Prime Minister Koizumi strikes privatization of postal services as the only one issue. The newspaper reported the expectation of overwhelming ness of the Liberal-Democratic Party at the end of last week. Of course, because it is often observed that this kind of expectation comes off, it is not possible to say indescribably. However, today I had an experience why privatization of postal services was necessary.

It started from the traffic accident that I encountered in daytime. Under the rain, my office car was about to turn right. However a taxi came down the slope from left-hand side. The taxi tried to stop once, but it slipped and knocked the left hand side of my car. In addition, after the collision, the taxi tried to go back up to the slope with panicking. But it slipped again and knocked us again. We were slapped two times. The rear side door was damaged.

The taxi driver went out of his car and with apologizing asked us whether or not we were hurt. I replied him that we were all right and checked the knocked door. I said jokingly, "Oh! Seriously damaged." The taxi driver seemed to be shy. In the meantime, a policeman came and researched the situation. He said, "Especially on a rainy day, accidents are often occurring here." I asked my driver to deal, I rushed to an office.

My driver drove the car to the repair shop and he was allotted a rent-a-car. In the evening, I saw the rent-a-car for the first time. It is a little larger car than my car. And there is a car navigation system next to the driver's seat. Nowadays it is said that the car navigation system is installed from 60% to 70% of all cars. However it has not been installed in my car. So this is the first time for me to see the most advanced car navigation system.

My driver was also quite new to the advanced car navigation system. He said to me, "Wow! It is interesting. How nice it is!" Every time when he stopped at the traffic signal, he touched the car navigation system. I agree with him, because the car navigation system is perfect. It was only a few years ago that the arrow of the car, which showed my car, was running in the river, because of the inaccurate navigation. However this car navigation is not only accurate, but also easy to see, because of the bird-eye map. Also the red part of the road shows the jammed road. I wanted to look into the car navigation, but I shouldn't enjoy it together with my driver. I said to him, "OK, OK, Enough. Please watch the road and other cars." Am I too much anxious?

Moreover, the driver began to push the button of the screen. There are the buttons, such as banks, convenience stores. The location of banks or convenience stores was shown on the screen. How wonderful it was! The thing that made me more surprised was that my driver moved the gear to the back. Then the screen showed the back view! This is not the map, but the new information terminal.

I realized that there was a button "Post office". While my car was running at the Kanda area, I happened to push it. I was very surprised, because the screen was occupied by the logo of the post office. Within a few hundred meters square meters, there are more than 20 post offices. My driver and I happened to shout, "After all, privatization of postal services is absolutely necessary."

(September 12, 2005)





29. Time Tripper

I sometimes change the top page of my website to "Moving Pages" as special versions. I have already made 37 Moving Pages for the opening of my website. If I would not change the top page, my website should be very boring one. So I sometimes make use of moving pages, in which I use not only pictures but also Java technologies. I combine pictures and Java Applets, both of which are in the public domain, for making my moving pages. So I always check many websites for getting suitable pictures and Java Applets. Last week, I happened to find an interesting website, which offered materials of Java Applet. This is Mr. Koji Yamamoto's website, named as "Time Tripper". This website is wonderful, because it is not nly beautiful but also very high skilled.

For example, there is an Java Applet, nemed as jhanabi10.lzh. This shows fireworks. The shape and color of fireworks are very beautiful. In addition, it can show even smoke of fireworks. So I soon applied this Java Applet to my website. You could easily find how nice his Java Applet is! For the comparison, I will show my conventional website.

As the second example, I would like to mention about jheri.lzh of Time Tripper. This is the Jave Applet of the third-dimensions flight simulator on aeroplanes. I am very impressed by this Java Applet, because I can operate aeroplane in the third dimansions. I can also make up the shape of aeroplane and background of the scenery. If it were only 10 years ago, we should make use of the big computor for simulating the same as this software. But now we can do it by using our plane notebook and very small volume of software.

Because his skill is wonderful and notebook computer's capacity has improved drastically, I could find such a wonderful software. I should appreciate to the author, Mr. Koji Yamamoto and the progress of the computor technology. If the technology would continue to progress in the present pace, I could make my own software by giving the instruction of only my idea. But it will take time. So at this moment there is no other way for me to take by asking help of the volunteer works like Mr. Koji Yamamoto.

By the way, it is very difficult for me to operete this three dimensions flight simulator. The aeroplane soon jumps up to the sky and at the next moment, it will crush down on the ground. Maybe the real wireless control should be more difficult. However after the several times trials, I can operate the flying aeroplane. Of course the flight is not always smooth, but at least I will no more crush it down. The important thing to operate it is to do it softly and step by step. Well, everything sould be like this.


( July 18, 2005)




28. The Peak of Spring

Although cherry blossoms are in full bloom, it started to rain. I felt as if whole Tokyo was in a mist. However as this is the rain in spring, it is not a hard rain, but a very soft one. I am worried that the cherry blossoms, which are now in full bloom, might fall down earlier than our anticipation. Especially, the Somei-Yoshino might have fallen down because of this rain and yesterday's strong wind. I hope I would like to walk around under the falling cherry blossom flowers in a bright day.

Thinking as above, my car was passing beside of the Palace Ootemachi Moat. I found a few droop cherry blossom trees, which were about to be hidden by a mist. They are still in full bloom. Then I made a haiku.

What does the mist hide? Is it a dream, a cherry blossoms or an imagination?


(April 11, 2005)



27. Mystery of Hay Fever
One day in March I was in a train, nine people sitting on the seat in front of myself. Surprisingly three people among them wore white masks with which all of their faces were almost covered. It is said that 34% of the Japanese is suffering from hay fever, caused by the cedar tree's pollen. The number of he patients in the train proved that this statistic was right.

So far I am free from this Japanese hey fever, caused by ceder trees' pollen. However I fully sympathize to such patients of hey fever, who are sneezing or having red eyes. They seem to be so blue and unpleasant. I feel very sorry to them. In this season, the shops or clinics have become full of patients, looking for goods such as masks and goggles or treatments.

Because last year was abnormally warm, the amount of dispersion of this year's pollen is extremely big amount. According to one survey, the number of pollen of this year is about 1,000 times of the normal year. I am astonished to know it. TV showed the ceder trees near Tokyo, which are covered by yellow clouds of pollen. It is an awful scene.

The treatment method of the hay fever measures tentatively says establishment according to the medical information. Moreover, the new type of ceders, which has less amount of pollen. However it takes more than 100 years to change the conventional ceder to this new type. I think it is a kind of joke. We should consider that more than 30% of nation is suffering from hey fever.

To begin with, the Japan cedar trees were intensively planted just after the World War II. It is the result of an artificial tree policy, which did not think of the hay fever. In that sense, it is man-made disease. As Japan is full of nature, we should cut down cedar trees at least new the big cities for stopping the hay fever. Even if we would cut down this cedar trees, I am sure other trees would be naturally grown up. If it were 30 years ago, people would criticize the forest industry people that they made a public nuisance of the hat fever. However why the present Japanese are so obedient?

(March 23rd, 2005)




26. Golden Horse
In the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur, there is a wonderful resort area, named as the Main resort. The artificial lake made after the former tin mine is nicely used, so this is the origin of its naming. The Golden Horse Hotel is located at the corner of the long and slender lake. Asia Pacific Ocean summit (APEC) was held here several years ago. All of the heads of U.S.A. Japan, China and the Southeast Asia countries had a conference. The shape of this hotel is quite unique for non-Moslem people, because it is just like as the Islamic temple (mosque).



However, the things that make all of the visitors surprised are so many horses in this hotel. Firstly at the entrance of this hotel, there is a wagon pulled by six horses made of bronzes. Secondly when I went into the hotel, I was welcomed by the horse statutes on the floor and horse angels on the ceiling. Of course each horse seemed to be made by skilled artists, so they are very nice.

Thirdly on the way to my room, he will see the tapestry of some horses on the walls. Fourthly when I entered into my room, I will find the pen-stand of horse. There was a memo-pad on which faces of horses are printed. I thought horses are the most favorite animal of the owner of this hotel. I went out for dinner and I found a Japanese restaurant in Lobby level. The name is "Kin-Ba (Golden Horse). However, there was no menu of horse meat. The owner seems to be horse lover.

By the way, this hotel is one edge of the Main Resort Lake. There is the shuttle boat between the Golden Horse Hotel and the Mine Resort Hotel, which is located on the other edge of the lake. When I took this boat, Breeze touched on my cheek, I could see beautiful green golf course, the boat passed under the small bridge. I felt as if I was traveling around rural area of the Britain. It is a really good resort.

(March 1, 2005)



25. Chinese Violin
At the Koishikawa Kourakuen Garden, there are some events in February as the plum flower festival. Two years ago, I happened to visit this garden under the cold weather. At that time, there was a musical performance of Japanese Harp and Bamboo Fruit. One girl and one boy wearing Japanese traditional clothes performed these instruments. Their sound harmonized to each other very well. With recalling this experience, I went to this garden again, hearing that there will be a Chinese Violin concert.




Two young men with short hairs appeared. One wore black clothes with stuff-collar and another had a brown shirt. The concert started. The black one performed the Chinese Violin and Brown one did a guitar. According to them, the Chinese violin has only two bowstrings, although a violin has four bowstrings. The bow is sandwiched between the bowstrings and body-arm. The side of the Chinese violin is comprised of the snakeskin, which is controlled by the Washington Convention. So it is quite difficult for us to import it.

The performance started. The first music is titled as "Evening Dark". It is relaxed music and the volume and the tone are rich. I think that a Chinese violin has the same power as the violin. When most of Japanese listen to this tune, they would remind of the TV program of "The Silk Road". It has the mood of very continental. The performer said he could play not only the old tunes but also recent ones. And he played some recent music.

After a while, he performed similar kinds of tunes. However audiences were surprised to listen to the last tune. Its Chinese title was "Horse Racing". It started very rhythmical sound. On the way, he made such sound as if a horse gave a loud neigh. Most of us unexpectedly said "Wow!" With listening to this tune, I could imagine as if I was running on the back of a horse in a Mongolian plane. I was really happy.

(February 26, 2005)




24. A Spring Strap
It is quite rare for me to lose goods. I am a careful type in character in nature, but in addition to this, I always make a device to evade from losing goods.

For example, several years ago, when a cellular phone appeared in the market for the first time, I thought that sooner or later I would drop and lose it, because its form was exactly like a stick. When I sat on a sofa, it easily dropped down from the pocket of my trousers. As I felt troublesome to check the cellular phone all the time, I made a rule to stop it to the belt of my trousers using the strap. And I put the cellular phone into my right pocket. Since it is connected with the strap and hangs down in my pocket, even if it would jump out of trousers, I notice it immediately. I thought that it was really good idea and praised myself.

However whenever I got a telephone call, I could not put the cellular phone near to my ear, because the strap prevented it. Therefore when I got a telephone call, firstly I shouted to the cellular phone saying that "Please wait a moment". Then I took off the strap, removed from the belt, put the cellular phone to my ear and started to talk. It was so troublesome for me. Then I gave up using the strap and bought a holder of the cellular phone. But this is more or less the same as before, because I had to take it out from the holder, when I received a call.

One day I thought a good idea. I should use a spring instead of the strap. The spring can be easily lengthened. Today to use a spring for the cellular phone strap, but at that time, no one used it. Then I searched for finding a spring strap. When I went to a store of the hobby in Aoyama Area, I happened to go in so-called fancy shop. There were so many fancy goods, mostly pinkish color. I searched and searched for the spring, finally I found a plastic strap made of spring. I soon tied it to my cellular phone and I tightened the other side to my belt hole. It was very convenient. I was so happy on that day.

Changing the subject, one day I took a flight to go back to my home town. After flying for about one hour, my airplane landed and I was about to go out from the plane. I happened to touch my left side pocket. I was surprised that there was no wallet. I soon thought where I lost it behind. I got my air ticket, using my credit card. I reminded that I had my wallet just before check-in. So I lost my wallet either in the airport or in this airplane. As I didn't go to the toilet, I might lose it in my seat. Then I bent my body and looked into the floor of my seat..... I found my wallet dropped on the floor.

This experience gave me a lesson. When I wore a casual wear, my wallet is easily slipped out from my pocket. Since then I made it a rule to tight my wallet to my pocket. As I had surplus strap, I bonded my wallet to my trousers. Since then one year has passed. I have had no trouble to do so. Even if I had to pay cash from my wallet, I need not to raise up my wallet. And I will never lose both of my wallet and cellular phone.

But the outlook is not always good. I bind my wallet to my left pocket and I tie my cellular phone to my right pocket. I called this as a Western Sheriff's style. My wife and children had made a noise to see it, but nowadays they seemed to give up.

(Sequel)

After a while since this, I was in my office as usual and I took the office car. As the car arrived at my house, I walked and stood in front of the automatically locked door. I tried to take out my house keys from my pocket. But I couldn't find my keys in my right pocket. Then I looked for my keys in my jacket pocket. There were no keys in my jacket or trousers. In a moment, I thought I dropped my keys some where. I remembered that just before I left from my office, I took out my keys and closed my locker. However after that I forgot whether I put my keys in my right pocket. Maybe I left my keys on my desk. As the door closed tightly, no one would go into my room, without the office key, kept by the guardsman.

I thought that I need not to worry about my keys. As the next step, I try to ask my wife to unlock this door. I used the interphone for asking her help. I push the button and made the bell ring. However no one replied. I was at a loss. Very luckily my wife suddenly came back.

Wife: "Oh! What are you doing?"
I : "I left behind my keys. But you are not in the house, I was in trouble. Are you all right to go out?"
Wife: "As I felt better than the morning, I went out for a while."
I : "That's good."

Talking like this, we took the elevator and reached to our room. As the next day was the public holiday, without keys, it is inconvenient for me to go out. I thought whether I should go to my office and pick up my key. But finally I stopped to pick up, because in these days my wife or other family was always in our house.

Then I repent of myself. I thought I should keep my keys just like as my cellular phone and wallet, using a plastic strap made of spring. Soon I went to a shop and bought the strap. I fixed one side to my keys and the other side to my belt hope.

Now I bind my wallet to my left pocket and I tie my cellular phone and keys to my right pocket. I called this as a Western Sheriff's advanced style. When I went back to my house, my wife and son asked me whether I found my keys. I showed them this advanced style. They laughed and laughed.



(October 7, 2004)( added November 5,2004)


23. One Aquarium Manufacturer

In the morning, I was reading a newspaper and found an article of bankruptcy of a company. This is a manufacturer of glass-made aquarium for ornament fishes. As this company, named as "Nisso", is about to bankrupt, it applied for making the re-vitalization program under the Company Re-Vitalization Law to the Tokyo Municipal Court. The reasons of hardship of Nisso are (1) Because of the recession, the demand for small aquarium has been decreasing, (2) Although Nisso invested money to real estates when the economy was in boom, now only the debt was left. And (3) One of the important contractors of Nisso was bankrupted and it couldn't get money. Although was a personal small matter, I owed a lot to Nisso. I wrote an essay on my favorite carp and as a part of this essay, I wrote as following;

"After doing my daily job in a cold season of February, I came back to my house and looked in the aquarium. I found that the water of the aquarium was decreasing in large quantities. I went out from the room and checked the veranda, it had got wet here and there with the water which leaked and came out from the aquarium. I found that something was wrong with the aquarium. Although it was very cold day, I checked the aquarium and found that there was a crack in the aquarium. The crack was running on the glass from the top to the bottom. However, flowing water was not so big volume as I thought. I thought that it would be all right until next day. As It had already passed over 0:00 a.m., I temporarily set the tap water to the aquarium and adjusted to supply new water to the amount of the leaked water. Then I went to bed. I couldn't sleep well, thinking how I should treat it tomorrow. Finally I woke up again and started to check the telephone directory. I found some manufacturers of the aquarium. I planned to ask some of them for help. Then I slept on that night.

Next morning I researched the office of the manufacturer of an aquarium through the telephone directory. I happened to find a manufacturer named as "Nisso Company" and its branch is located at the Kita-Ward, which was quite near from my house. I called up to this branch. I explained the situation and asked their help. They were willingly to come and bring new aquarium. If it was the case of electric manufacturer, they would not come easily like this. As they are daily treating live fishes, they could understand the seriousness of the problem. I thought this was the good points of the pet-related company. We could share the same feeling as pet-lovers. I was happy to think like this. After calling to the branch, since I had an important job, I had to go to my office. Very reluctantly, I went out for my job, asking my wife to watch the aquarium. From here, this was the story of my wife what happened after I went out.

The aquarium company man came to my house around at noon. The engineer just had a look on my aquarium and said "This is not our product. Sorry!" Then he was about to go back. My wife was surprised and asked him for help, otherwise this carp might die soon. Finally he agreed and to started to change the aquarium. Before changing, he asked her how much this carp was. She replied it was only 500 yen. Hearing this, he started to replace it at ease. Well, the carp of 500 yen and the one of 500,000 yen were quite different for him. He was a very deliberate person. With dipping his both hands and arms, he was kindly enough to catch the moving and jumping carp under the very cold season. He finally caught the carp and put it temporarily into the spare bucket. He set the new aquarium on the stand and set back the filter, balls gravel and others. Then he finally returned back the carp into the new aquarium. Looking these, my wife appreciated him and said "thank you" for from the bottom of her heart. The man said, "That's why my company does not make a profit, since we are doing such a small job like this." They laughed at the same time. I am wondering whether such a wonderful company could have overcome the day of economic depression after the Heisei Bubble Economy in 1990s."

I think it was Nisso that firstly produced so-called "round-corner" glass-made aquarium in Japan. Until this new aquarium, the corner of the entire small aquarium was sharp in 90 degrees. Owing to this new type, it has been easy for us to see the aquarium in a closer distance and no harmful to watchers. Such a good company should be saved.

(July 27, 2004)


22. Uncle Macdonald

I took a subway in the center of Tokyo. As it was the daytime of a weekday, the subway train was comparatively vacant. Most of the passengers could sit on the bench sheet, and only a few passengers were standing near the door. I was also able to sit on around the middle of a bench sheet. When I happened to see the front casually, I saw the middle-aged foreigner was sitting in front of me. He was reading a magazine, maybe the Newsweek eagerly. I felt as if I had known him. But I couldn't identify who he was. After a while, I found that he was very similar to the doll of "Uncle Macdonald". Yes! The doll is set in front of the Macdonald restaurant of the hamburger. However, if I saw him minutely, there were some differences. For example, this man is a little bald to the comparison with the doll. But just like as the doll, this man had a splendid mustache, thick eyebrows, white hair, etc. I felt so funny and almost laughed to think that the doll, Uncle Macdonald was reading Newsweek, not standing in front of hamburger restaurant.

There was a Japanese gentleman, who was standing near the door. He wore a black suit and carried out the golden batch of a chrysanthemum, which showed that he was a patent attorney. This gentleman took out a cellular phone suddenly and began to telephone.
"Hello, This is Mr.... speaking. Yes,... That's right. By the way... All right, understand." Since it was in the quiet car, this telephone call was outstanding. Under such situation, this Uncle Mac suddenly stood up and went to him. The surrounding people thought what would happen. Uncle Mac said to him, "Excuse me! Your cellar phone!" and returned to the seat immediately. Although uncle Mac spoke to him in English, he seemed to understand the meaning. At first he showed embarrassed face to uncle Mac and next he kept the cellular phone in the pocket of his suit.

After the caution not to use the cellular phone to him, uncle Mac is continuing reading Newsweek again, as if nothing would happened. It seems that however, the magazine was lifted and the face was hidden a little. On the other hand, the cautioned patent attorney had already moving to the direction of another door. Recently since there are some people who are not always obedient to the rules in some public sectors, I think we should make necessary cautioning to them. But at the same time, some of the cautioned people, who mainly young guys, might get angry, when they were cautioned. So I usually do not caution to the unknown people. Under such situation, I thought uncle Mac had done very good things.

(June 06, 2004)


21. A Girl of My Office

In my office, there is only one woman's staff. She works as my secretary and is also doing some assistant manager's job. Since she has such characters as brightness and vigor peculiar to a young woman, she is very in popular among staffs, mostly aged and matured persons. In general, such a young girl like her should have diffidence to be surrounded by aged people. For example, some young girls have shyness to talk to matured man and can't communicate with them smoothly. However her case is different. She is very positive to work together with us. She is really an idol of my office. I think she has been nicely brought up and loved by not only her parents but also her grand parents and other aged good people.

However the tragedy happened to her on the other day. She bought an ice-candy, which is her most favorite one, in the lunch break. Just after she bought it, she licked and swallowed it as usual. She should be able to taste the coolness and sweetest. But unexpected thing happened. The ice-candy couldn't come out from her mouth. As it was so cold that it stuck in her mouth. At first she couldn't understand what happened. And next, she was so surprised and forced to pull out the candy. It came out with unpleasant sound "Rip Rip!!". And even some blood came out from her mouth. Luckily the blood was small, but it was enough to make her astonished. We were also surprised and strongly recommended her to go and see a doctor. But she stoutheartedly said "It's not necessary" and continued her job as usual.

After a while, she said "I didn't know that an ice-candy would become a weapon". Everyone laughed. She had a chat with other office ladies and explained this happening. One of them asked her how old she was. She dared to reply that she was 5 years old. But we noticed that she was a bit unusual on that day. For example, she broke a plate.

This is a story of a happy office, in a very peaceful time.


(April 20, 2004)




20. A Scent of the Sweet Plum

 
On one midnight of spring, I happened to open a window for fresh air.
In the air I found some sweet fragrance, which made me happily.
The scent of a fragrant plum has been prevailing.



It has been very warm in the winter of this year. In January, there had been no day which became under the freezing point in Tokyo. The lowest temperature in Tokyo was 0.2 degrees, which was only one day. The maximum temperature in Tokyo was 15 - 16 degrees, which we had many days. I am wondering whether it was caused by the city heat island phenomenon or the global warm phenomenon In the South Pole, ice melts away and it is said that ice bed started to melt rapidly.

Anyway it is good for the spring flower is in full bloom, owing to the favor of warm temperature. In the area of the Bouso Peninsula, it is said that yellow rape blossoms have already passed over the peak. Near my house of the middle in Tokyo, for example in the Yushima Shrine, the plum blossoms are in the full of bloom now. Since even the night it is warm, we sometimes open a window widely for ventilation, the plump scent happens to tickle the back of our nose. I personally love the gorgeous shower of falling cherry blossom petals in spring, but I also like this humble scent of the sweet plum in this season.

(March 1, 2004)




19. Please Do Not Play Too Much!

From April 2004, the law school system will start in Japan. around 70 law schools were approved and established simultaneously. Law school entrance examinations have been performed from January to March in the whole country. They are almost finishing.

By the way, the following letters have been sent to the successful candidate of one law school. The sender was "the committee of a method and the study instruction of the Department Law School Establishment Preparation Office" of the university.

"Our committee members express a welcome to you who had passed the difficult entrance examination and decided to enter our law school of our university. You have become the honorable first law school student. We think all of you have the wonderful future views and hopes. Also all of you expect a lot to your new university life. On the other hand, some of you are returning from business field and others have no experience on legal studies. We are afraid that these students might be worried about studying laws and should have hope to study legal books before entering our law school. Our committee, having duty and responsibility to students, also expect you to study laws to certain extent beforehand, especially to such students, who are playing a lot after finishing entrance examination. For the purpose of making you to start your law school life smoothly, our committee would like to guide you some minimum matters of study before your entering our law school.

After I read this letter, especially the red underlined sentences, I felt so strange. I thought this law school treats students as if they were some secondary school students. But this law school belongs to one of the most famous universities in Japan. Is this university always suffering from such students as "who are playing a lot"? If they were so, how stupid the recent university students are! However I don't think the law school students are like this. Anyway without hard study, such playful students would never pass the difficult national Lawyer's Examination.

(February 21, 2004)


18. Aging Makes Us Milder

My office sent e-mail to inform all of us that the Prime Minister's Office was planning to praise the exploits of the long-term service officials and staffs. I was wondering who the candidates of this year were. At a glance on the list, I was surprised. My name was written on the top the candidates list of continuous service 30 years commendation.

As it was totally out of mind that I have worked such a long time, I felt some mixture of complicated feelings and thinking. I was surprised of the long term service of 30 years, which still I felt in a very short time in my mind. Maybe I don't want to recognize that I got aged in my deep mind. On the other hand, among my 21 colleagues who entered to the Ministry at the same time, 9 have already resigned. So I have to face the reality and weight of the past 30 years' term.

I read this e-mail again and found that there are not only 30 years commendation but also 20 years. However I didn't get the 20 years commendation. At that time, did the authority forget about me? Well, it is of no use to think about it. I should appreciate to the authority for their recognition on me on this time. So instead I will not argue and say "I don't like such commendation, because every one who have served for 30 years can get it", I should accept the honor to be given it by them. This kind of mild and thankful feeling of mine might be the good results of the last 30 years.

(November 20, 2003)


17.The Incredibly Unkind Bank

My bank card has two black strips on both sides. One side is for an ordinary deposit, of which I usually make use. Another side is written to be used for "My Card", which I have never used. I knew it is used for the borrowing money, but I need not use so far. However as these two strips are printed on the same card, there are really confusing when I am about to draw my deposited cash. Especially in case of rushing to draw cash, I sometimes insert the wrong side (My Card) and soon I took it back, because the cash machine (ATM) warns me.

One day I went to the bank and printed my bank account report, which I hadn't checked for a while. After this printing, I checked it. Then I happened to find a strange item of "payment 10,000 yen". I was wondering what it was. I had never borrowed money so far. So I checked my bank account for the last few years' record. But there is no record that I was loaned before.

I should clarify this strange record. I asked one of the bank clerks what it was. His reply was out of my imagination. He asked me whether I borrowed money through MY Card. I answered Never! Then, he asked me again, "Have you ever used ATM of other bank?". I said, "Yes, a few months ago, I used the other ATM and withdraw some cash. He said "it might be". He started to check my bank account record and found that I used other ATM and got 60,000 yen and 30,000 yen in August and also 40,000 yen in September.

I asked him, "Was it related to this strange record ?" He said, "Our ATM would warn to customers, if they were about to insert the wrong side of our bank card. However the other ATM would not be so kind like ours. Even if the customer would insert wrong side and have no intention of borrowing money, the ATM recognize that the customer would use MY Card and loan him cash. Therefore please check the balance of MY Card". Then I found that my status is in debt by 31,888 yen.

Although I had no intention of borrowing money from this bank, I was unexpectedly forced to borrow money from this bank. My debt was 31,888 yen. I thought as if this was a kind of fraud. But anyway I should settle this as soon as possible. So I withdrew money from my account and settled this unpleasant debt account. It was true that to insert my bank card in a wrong direction might be my mistake, but still it was so unfair for the bank to get some interest by taking such dishonest advantage.

By the way, why the interest rate was so high ? As the record shows, I seemed to borrow 30,000 yen in August. This amount of money will become 41,888 yen, including the 10,000 yen that I paid back in October. If so, the interest is 11,888 yen for only two months. This is incredibly high interest rate. How come such a greedy rate they impose me! This might exceed the maximum interest rate which is forced by law. Or the money that I unintentionally borrowed was 40,000 yen? If so, 41,888 yen is the total amount of the loan and interest. Anyway I repent myself not to make sure of the direction of the card. I will have to make further check on my account. Well, like this, the time has come when I can't believe the bank. Or the past when the banks were protected by the Government might be an extra-ordinary days.

(October 21, 2002)


(Note) In December the bank sent me the detail document of this transaction or "fraud". According to what they want to say was;

September 4... I withdrew 40,000 yen by other bank ATM.
September 30... A commission and interest were114 yen
October........ A charge of new transaction of MY Card is 1,470 yen! What is this!!!
October........ Interest 295 yen


16.Inappropriate Joke

Although it was still in February which was one of the coldest seasons in Japan, it happened to be a warm day that nice Sunlight poured on the tennis ground. I was playing tennis with my friends. I was freely hitting and smashing tennis balls. One moment, I saw a middle-aged man, who just joined to our tennis club. Although he belongs to the same generation as ours, His play style is very elegant and graceful. He was moving to the tennis ball very smoothly and hit the ball strongly. All of us, who watched his play, were so impressed by his powerful but elegant tennis play.

To compare with my tennis style and his style, unfortunately it is very obvious how poor my play is. For example, although I have been enjoying tennis for the last 10 years or so, I have already given up catching fast coming balls. Also for hitting a ball on the volley, I only stretch my hands, with not making a subtle stance. In another words, an observer would say that my tennis play might be very lazy. To tell some excuse, I am very careful for not getting injured, because I hope I can play tennis as longer as possible. So I try to avoid hard play and take the safety side all the time. But still, I have to admit that his play is wonderful. This is the reason why I was fascinated by his nice play. When he was chasing the balls, I felt as if he would be just like as a deer or an antelope. Wow! Like this, he is a perfect tennis player.

However, although his strong and powerful play, like a professional tennis player, he looks like a very old man. When you would see him, you should think that he was more than 60 years-old. The reason is why his hair turned to be completely gray or pure white. Actually his age is the beginning of 50 years-old. As I noticed this point, I said to him, "Your tennis play is really splendid and young. I couldn't identify whether the player is a very young man or an aged man like us." Of course there should be some complementary to him to certain extent. However it was true for me to have such impressions on his play.

A man cut in our conversation. He is a sales manager of a trading company. He said, "No. He is only dyeing hair white." Oh! He tried to be an angle for compliments. In Japanese, we say it was the compliments "making his tooth float". However surprisingly he kept his countenance, with a bit happy expression. As a joke, I added, "Oh! If so, you should have dyed your hair into red, when you were young". Then I found that someone changed color. I felt strangely, but I continued my tennis play. After a while, I finished playing and had a rest on the coat side. I asked his occupation to my acquaintance. According to him, he is now a GM of a big company. But when he was young, he was famous for doing such activities.

Well. It was really inappropriate joke. I should be more careful to see stranger.
   
(February 25. 2002)


15.A Computer Virus

It was my first experience to get an attack of a computer virus. Luckily enough, the anti-virus software of Symantic, which I have already installed, stopped the virus. It cost 8,000 yen, but it is worth more than that. When I installed it, I was worried about the computer virus, because I changed my OS to Windows XP and I installed ADSL, which were vulnerable to a virus attack. I thought I am on the edge of the age, good or bad.

The computer virus came to my personal computer through the e-mail from one of my friends. When I opened my mail box, I found a strange e-mail from my friend's office. He is a patent lawyer, but he is not a type of sending e-mail to me. He always calls me up, in stead of e-mail. So I felt so strangely. However I couldn't' imagine it was a virus. So I just opened the e-mail. No message was in the e-mail itself. There was an attached file only. Soon after I clicked it, a big red massage of a bag appeared. It was written that this was the Bad Trans B virus. I was so surprised and I erased it immediately. The Bad Trans B is a virus to send e-mail to the addresses in each computer by copying itself.

I was wondering, "Well. This is really an uninvited guest. Does he know about it?" Then I became busy and forgot about this e-mail. After a few hours, I got a telephone call. When I picked up the phone, I found it was from the patent lawyer. He seemed to be in a tension, because his saying "Hello" was not as usual. I said, "Oh! How are you? Are you fine? By the way are you worried about the virus?" Apparently he seemed to be at ease. He said, "Yeah! That's right. Are you all right? The computer of one of my friends was infected by the virus. So the mail from him conveyed the virus, which I spread to all of my friends. I am sorry." I replied to him, "Please do not worry. The anti-virus software blocked the virus. By the way, are you calling to all of your friends like this? It seemed to be so troublesome for you." We laughed and finished calling.

I thought that I should be more careful not to invite the computer virus. The definition file of virus is renewed at least a few times in a week. So I will have to renew it continuously. Today's newspaper reported that new security hole was found in Windows XP. I should download and install it, as soon as possible. It is really a pinching game, but it is necessary for us to fight it as much as possible.


(December 20, 2001)


One month later


Around one month later when I wrote the above article, I got e-mail from my university friend. He wrote, "I am sorry to inform you that my personal computer was infected by a bad virus. And I am afraid that I might let the virus infect to your personal computer. So please erase the infected file, named as sulfnbk.exe, following the attached instruction."

Well, I felt so seriously and did a virus check on my personal computer. The result was no problem. My computer was not affected by any of virus. There was no file of "sulfnbk.exe" in my computer. I was at ease. However this was not the end of story. Another university friend sent us e-mail, saying that we should not erase "sulfnbk.exe", because this was the intrigue." I was surprised. It was an intrigue e-mail. A few hours later other university friend informed us by e-mail, stating that the intrigue e-mail was infected by the real virus of the Bad Trans B. I was laughing. I had not heard such a ridiculous story for a few years. Anyway this episode was a good chance for me to study the computer virus and intrigue e-mail.


14. ADSL来る

 今年の6月19日、孫氏率いるヤフー(まるで、IT戦国時代を象徴するかのような表現で、我ながら滑稽だ)が、インターネット接続に関して従来の常識や価格設定を根底から覆すような劇的な発表をした。それは、ADSLを、初期費用の3,600円 月額 2,830円、しかも最初に加入する百万人までは工事費無料というものである。速度も速くて、下り最大8Mbps、上り最大900kbps、電話線ダイヤルアップ(56kbps)の約140倍の高速通信だという。同じブロードバンドだと喧伝されていた当時の我がマンションのCATVインターネットでは、そのケーブル・テレビ会社は、月5,300円、初期費用19,000円、性能は上り64kbps、下り512kbpsというものを用意していたので、まさに雲泥の差であった。そしてこれが契機となって、日本が世界に誇るブロードバンド時代に突入していったのであるから、世の中わからないものである。

 6月に申し込んでから、ヤフー側からはうんともすんとも何にも言ってこなくて、いったいどうしたかと思っていたところ、8月にサービス開始するというメールが来た。ところが、それでもなかなか返事がない。ようやく10月初旬になって、モデムを送るという連絡がやって来て、それから三日後に届いたのである。待ちくたびれて、あまり感激というものもなかったが、それでも、いそいそと家の電話線に繋いだ。ところが、どうにも繋がらないのである。「WLK」というランプがチカチカと点いているので、説明書によれば、これは電話会社のNTTの方の工事が終わっていないことを示しているという。「やれやれ、やっぱりそうか、安かろう、悪かろうなのかな」と思い、諦めてそのまま放置した。

 それから二週間ほどして、ヤフーから連絡が突然あり、チェックに来るという。日曜日の夕刻に約束したが、予定より早くお昼に来てしまい、私は残念ながら立ち会えなかった。でも、家の者が代わって応対してくれて、分かったことがひとつ。何と私の接続が間違っていたのである。それを直したらその場で繋がったらしく、速度もまずまずで、最大8Mbpsのところが6.32Mbps出たという。いや、それにしても私もお粗末で、その場にいたら恥をさらすところだった。まあ、いずれにせよ、よかったというわけである。

 実際にその6.32Mbpsという速度でモデムと繋いでみると、いやその早いこと早いこと。国内のインターネットのサイトなら、本のページをサッサッとめくっていくような感覚である。試しにインターネット・エクスプローラー新しくしようとして、6.0をダウンロードしたら、わずか1〜2秒で終了してしまったので、びっくりした。この間、電話線ダイヤルアップで5.0を5.5に更新したときには、予定時間で2時間15分、実際には4時間近くかかったのに比べると月とスッポンで、新幹線と自転車くらいのスピードの差がある。加えて常時接続なので、時間を気にする必要もないというのも、気が楽になる。

 というわけで、これを利用してこれからはインターネット・ライフがもっと生活に密着したものになるだろう。新しい時代が到来する予感がするのである。


(2001. 10.28著)


13.味とデザイン

  一日の仕事が終わり、家路に着いた。きょうは暑かったなあと思いながら家内の顔を見て、我が家のテーブルにすわる。何気なく、前に目をやったところ、そこには中国製のような陶器のとっくりがある。青磁のような味わいがする。いや、変わったものがあるなあと思いながら、それを手にとったら、軽いのでびっくりした。何だ、これはウーロン茶の缶ではないか。それにしても、遠くから見れば、陶器のように見えるのは気が利いている。これは面白い商品だと思い、何かピンと来るものがあったのである。普通のウーロン茶はやや渋い味わいがして、私はあまりたくさんは飲めないが、この陶器のような缶の味は、やや軽めである。だから、私でもあまり抵抗なく飲める。これは、味良し、デザイン良しである。

 そうしていたところ、それから一週間も経たないうちに、この缶についての新聞記事が載った。朝日新聞によると、ウーロン茶の王者であるサントリーに対して、このキリン・ビバレッジという会社が挑むという構図らしい。最初、鳳凰という製品でチャレンジしたところ、敢えなく敗れ去ったので、捲土重来を狙ってこの商品を出したとのこと。そして「聞茶は5月末までに、計画より1ヶ月早く300万ケース売れた。年間の販売計画量も800万ケースから1500万ケースに上方修正・・・」という、誠に景気の良い話である。聞茶(ききちゃ)と発音するらしい。まあ、味もさることながら、その缶のデザイナーに対して、賞賛の言葉を差し上げたい。プレジデント6月号には「デザイナーが金沢の窯元にまで陶器の原版を焼きに行き、できあがったデザインをスキャナーで読みとってアルミ板に転写するという手法で、陶器の味わいを出した」という。それに、白地の缶を作るのも難題だったが、頼み込んで作ってもらったという。

 ところで、私のテニス仲間の一人に、今申し上げ王者サントリーの人がいて、同じように商品開発を仰せつかったという。ちゃんと、キリンの挑戦を受けて立つという仕組みである。ここまでいくと、現代の果たし合いである。こちらは、お茶葉系(ウーロン茶・緑茶)のように旨味はあるが渋味も出るというものと、穀物系(麦茶)のようにさっぱりしているが旨味も渋味もないものとの融合を考え、旨味はあるが渋味のないものができないかと試行錯誤した。そして、「熟茶」と書いて「じゅくちゃ」と呼ばせるものを世に送り出した。中国奥地の雲南省西双版納にて吟味に吟味を重ねた結果、やっと作り出しに成功したプーアル茶の一つであるそうな。

 「えぇっ、ウーロン茶でないのか、プーアル茶といえば、数年前に私の友人が、『これを飲んで数キロ痩せた!痩せた! だから、お前も飲め』と騒いでいたものだ。仕方がないので、これを飲んでみたら、まあ、かび臭いというか、とっても飲める代物ではなかった。そんな薬みたいなものをねぇ」という気がしたものである。

 しかしともあれ、三煎・二層抽出なる画期的製法を開発したという能書きの書きつけてある紙付きで、その一缶をいただき、試しに味わってみた。そうしたところ、これが意外や意外、プーアル茶にありがちな臭みやら、胃にドーンと来るような重さがなくて、非常に飲み良い代物であった。これは私にはぴったりだなあと思ったのもつかの間、それから一月も経たないうちに、町で見かけなくなってしまった。

 これも後講釈だが、あのペットボトルの色と形が、類似商品とあまり差がなかったからだとと思う。これは、味はともかく、デザインがそれに追いついていかなかった例である。こんな風にして飲食料品業界では、新製品が毎年何百・何千と生まれながら、そのうち生き残るものはわずか数%いや、一説によればもっと少ないという。いやまあ、何と無駄なことか。


 ところで、6月9日の日経新聞に、何でもランキングと称して、主婦が飲みたい茶飲料のランキングがあった。それによると、次のようになっている。
 1位 生 茶   (キリンビバレッジ)
 2位 十六茶   (アサヒ飲料)
 3位 爽健美茶  (日本コカコーラ)
 4位 まろ茶   (日本コカコーラ)
 5位 旨 茶   (アサヒ飲料)
 6位 
聞 茶   (キリンビバレッジ)
 7位 おーいお茶 (伊藤園)
 8位 しみじみ緑茶(サントリー)
 9位 なごみ麦茶 (日本コカコーラ)
 10位 
熟 茶   (サントリー)

 このうち1位の生茶は、発売以来、3090万ケースが売れた大ヒットの定番商品。味が「さっぱり」としつつも、「深い味わい」が消費者に受けた。2位と3位は、ともに93年の発売で、ブレンド茶の草分けである。以上の1位から3位までの製品は、四位以下を大きく引き離している。最近の特徴は、苦みや渋味を押さえたもので、7位と10位は、これを狙っている。他方、6位の聞茶はボトル缶を採用して「デザインがいい」という理由になっている。ところでこの「ボトル缶」の特徴は、一度に飲みきれなくとも栓ができるし、光を通さないアルミでできていることから、最近ではお茶に使用されはじめている。ところで、調査期間の後となってしまって、以上のランキング対象品目からは外れてしまったが、このほかにサントリーの定番トップ商品の「烏龍茶」がある。

 うーむ、勉強になった。
 

 (2001. 6. 7著、6. 9追加)


12.道を聞かれて

 このゴールデン・ウィーク中に、珍しい出来事があった。私は、たまたま神田小川町からお茶の水に向けて、あの長い坂をトコトコと上がっていった。そして三井海上のビル当たりにさしかかったところ、坂の上から、若い女性が息せき切って駆け下りてくるのが見えた。グレーのスーツ、タイトなスカートで、いわゆるリクルート・ルックである。その子が、どういうわけか、私の目の前で急に止まり、「あの、ちょっと」と何か尋ね始めた。何しろ赤ん坊などは、私の顔を見ると泣き出すこともあるから、小さい子や若い女性が向こうから話しかけてくることなど、誠にもって珍しいことである。

 その若い子は、面長のなかなか可愛らしい人で、言葉遣いもしっかりしている。
「この辺に、日大経済学部はありませんか。」というのである。「日大の医学部ならあるけれど、その他の学部は、ずいぶん前に移転したのではないでしょうかねぇ。地図や住所は持っていますか。」と聞くと、彼女は一枚のはがきを出してきた。それには、「就職面接会場」と書いてある。しかも、そこに印刷された地図のJRの駅をつくづく見ると、「水道橋」とあるではないか。

 そこで
「あぁ、ここはお茶の水で、水道橋は隣の駅ですよ。一度この坂を上がっていってからJRの黄色い電車で次の駅に行き、そこから行けばいいですね。」というと、「はい、わかりました。ありがとうございます。」と答えて、さっと振り向いて、坂を上っていった。ポニー・テイルの髪を左右に振り振り、案外早いスピードで、視界から消えていったのである。

 いやはや、まだ5月だというのに、もう就職の面接が始まっている。就職氷河期だから、この子も何社も回らざるを得ないのだろうな。それにしても大変なことだけれども、言葉遣いは合格、しかも容姿端麗なので、ご健闘を祈りたい。

(2001. 4.30)


11.根津のつつじ

 近くの根津神社では、毎年4月中旬から5月初旬にかけて、つつじ祭りというものが行われる。境内の斜面一面に色とりどりのつつじが咲き誇るのを鑑賞するという、ただそれだけの催しである。ところが、これがまた見事なもので、初めて見る人は思わず「ほほぅ」という声をあげてしまう。いつもはただ緑一色の何の変哲もないところに、急に一面が白、赤、ピンク、紫などの原色の花に覆われた数多くのこんもりとした木々が出現するのであるから、私ならずとも、歓声を上げたくなるというものである。しかし、このようにいくら言葉を使って説明しても、この風景を十分に説明しつくせない嫌いがある。

 まあ、百聞は一見に如かずというところで、一度はお出かけいただくとよい。ただし、この季節になると、地下鉄の千代田線根津駅を降りたとたん、ぞろぞろと神社に向かう老若男女の群れに出くわして、前へ急いで進むのも、後ろへ向かうのも、いずれも非常に困難なものとなる。いま「老若」と申し上げたが、実は「老老」といったところで、実年熟年の世代が多い。それというのも、この根津神社のつつじを皮切りに、上野東照宮のぼたんと、亀戸天神の藤の花が見事であり、これらをぐるりと回ってくれば、夫婦そろってごく手軽に下町の花を楽しめるからである。

 この東京の下町の花の歳時記を取り上げてみよう。

 2月 湯島天満宮の梅祭り
 4月 根津神社のつつじ祭り、播磨坂さくら祭り
 5月 上野東照宮のぼたん、亀戸天神の藤祭り
 6月 白山神社のあじさい祭り
 7月 伝通院・源覚寺の朝顔・ほおずき市、
    下谷鬼子母神の朝顔祭り
    浅草寺のほおずき市
10月 谷中菊祭り
11月 湯島天満宮の菊祭り


 このほか、花とは関係がないが、おもしろい行事として、次のお祭りなどは、一見の価値がある。日枝神社、神田明神の祭りとともに江戸三大祭の一つである浅草神社の三社祭では、専門の御神輿かつぎチームが活躍し、本当にびっくりするような下町の力を感じる。また浅草サンバカ−ニバルは、これとは全く別の意味での若いエネルギーに驚かされる。地球の裏側の激しい踊りが、日本の、しかもお江戸以来の歴史のある町にこれほどまでに定着したというのは、誠に不思議な感じがする。もちろん踊り手は若い人だが、どういうわけか、その見物人は実年以上が多い。

 5月 浅草神社の三社祭
 7月 隅田川花火大会
 8月 浅草サンバカ−ニバル
12月 浅草寺の羽子板市


(2001. 4.24)


10. 図太い神経

 きょう、のどかな春の土曜日、ふとテレビの討論番組を見ていると、ある私立大学の学長さんが出ていた。今やロマンス・グレーになったが、なかなかの恰幅である。昔々のことになるけれども、実は私の親しい先輩がこの学長さんの仕打ちに辟易して、ひどく腹を立てていたことを思い出し、思わず含み笑いをしてしまったから、家内が不思議そうな顔をした。

 そこで、およそ20年前に、この人を巡ってどういう経緯があったのかを、説明してあげたのである。その時分、私の先輩は、エネルギー問題の専門家として売り出していて、テレビの座談会に招かれた。当日指定された会場に行ってみると、その座談会に出る人たちが待合室に三々五々に集まってきて、雑談をしていた。その中で、若き日のこの学者も、その出席者の一人となっていた。

 そこで私の先輩は、これらの出席者の前で現下のエネルギー問題をとうとうとまくし立て、ご丁寧にいろいろと事例まで挙げて説明したのである。さて、それから本番の収録となり、出席者はテレビ・カメラの前に集結した。司会に促されて最初に口火を切ったのが、この学者だった。ところが、それを聞いて私の先輩はビックリした。その学者が話す内容は、何とまあ、自分がたった今、その控室で話した内容そのものであったからである。しかも、事例も全く同じであった。

 そうこうしているうちに、先輩がしゃべる番が回ってきたが、何しろ自分の大切な持ちネタがすべて使われてしまった後なので、そのショックから立ち直れず、さりとてそう急には新しいことを思いつけるわけでもなく、非常にあせった。何とか説明を始めたけれども、結局のところメロメロの無茶苦茶になって終わってしまったのである。

 それ以来この先輩は、「あの、エセ学者め。とんでもないヤツだ」と、あちこちでさんざんに罵倒していた。ところが、その学者の方はどんどん出世して、政府の枢要な審議会の会長として君臨するは、日本で有数の私立大学の学長を勤めるはで、その先輩は足下にも及ばなくなってしまった。いまや二回目の学長ポストをお勤めになっている。

 こういう他人の智恵を横取りしてそれをすぐに使って平然としているその神経の太さと、出世の階段を駆け上がる早さから推察されるその政治力の確かさとが、この学長さんの持ち味らしいが、それにしても、まあその生臭いこと、町の政治家も顔負けである。それ以来、この私立大学には、何か胡散臭い気がしてなならないのである。しかし、何というか、これが世渡り上手というものであろうか。 


 (2001. 4 7) 



9 犬と石頭

  皇居の桜田門の付近を車で通るたびに、首を伸ばして警視庁の中庭の茂みを覗くのであるが、お目当ての彫刻が見つからない。何しろ、警視庁の建物なので、外からじっくり探すわけにもいかない。やっぱりあれは、酒飲みの与太話だったかと思うのであるが、それにしても、よく出来ていた話だなあと残念に思うのである。

 あるとき、私の知人が、とっておきの話だといって、酒の席でこんなことを語っていたのである。桜田門にある警視庁の建物は比較的新しいが、これを作った頃は、彫刻家に頼んで彫刻を彫ってもらい、それを玄関前に飾るというのが慣行だった。そこで、警視庁の建物についても、流 政之という現代彫刻家に依頼した。問題は、この大家がいわゆる無頼風の人柄だったことである。彫刻ができあがってみると、どうもそれはお稲荷様のような外見をしている。そして、関係者がびっくり仰天したのは、その彫刻家がこれに「桜田門の犬」という名前を付けよと言ったのである。まあそうかもしれないが、それはあまりにもひどいではないかということで、すったもんだのあげくに、結局その彫刻は、飾られれはしたものの、人目に付かない場所となったという。

 しかも、これには後日談がある。その直後に、今度は特許庁の建物が建てられることになり、やはりその流氏に依頼した。できあがった彫刻は、球体を二つに割って半球にしたような外見であった。そしてこれについても、流氏は「三年町の石頭」という題を付けよといったそうである。しかしこの時の発注者は偉かった。警視庁での騒ぎをあらかじめわきまえていて、「すでに内部でこれに適当な題を募集し、その結果『愛の○○』という題が付いたので、もう替えられません」といって押し切ったそうである。それ以来、官庁が彼に彫刻を依頼したという話は、ついぞ聞いたことがない。

 今日、たまたま赤坂溜池近くの特許庁の前を通りかかったところ、それらしき半球状の彫刻が玄関横に確かにあった。たまたま一緒にいたこの辺に詳しい人に聞くと、昔々このあたり電車が通っていた頃には、この特許庁前は「三年町」と言っていたという。「あっ、それだ!」と思った。これで石頭の意味がわかった。惜しむらくは、もう一つの証拠である「犬」が見あたらないのである。さりとて、警視庁の人に直接聞くのも気が引ける。ひょっとして、最高機密事項かもしれない。いや、これは冗談であるが、ともあれ、いつの日かその真偽を知りたいと思っている。


 (2001. 3.14)


8 悲惨な内職

 3月7日、朝日新聞の朝刊を読んでいたところ、中国の江西省宣春市の小学校で爆発があり、建物が全壊し児童ら40人近くが死亡し、27人が負傷したとの記事があった。短い記事なので、さっぱり要領がつかめないが、児童の内職の爆薬が爆発したというのである。ところが、「小学校」、「児童」、「内職」、「爆発」、「40人近く死亡」という一連のキーワードがどうしても私の頭の中で結びつかなくて、悲惨な事件ではあるが、いったい本当のことだろうかと疑問に思っていた。
 ところが、その日の日経新聞の夕刊で、なぞは一気に解けた。何と、この中国の小学校では、不足している運営経費を補填するため、児童らが学校で爆竹に導火線を付ける「内職」をしていたというのである。ところが、たまたま教室内に置いてあった加工中の爆竹に引火してこの惨事が起こった。この爆発で四つの教室はほぼ吹き飛び、二階建ての校舎は全壊した。
 しかし、いくら何でも児童に内職をさせるというのは、わが国では明治以降はもちろん、江戸時代の寺子屋でもやらなかったのではないだろうか。しかもそれが、危険きわまりない爆竹というのでは、全くもって何をいわんやである。これでは安心して子供を学校に預けられないし、そもそもこういうことを黙認している政府の指導層の人権感覚を疑いたくなるところである。翌日の朝刊で、大人に抱きかかえられて泣いている女の子の写真を見て、胸がつまった。


(2001.03.08)



7.御神酒徳利

 私のマンションにはいろいろな人がいるが、その中にはこの地元に長く根付いている人たちもいる。江戸筆の伝統工芸士というおじさん、絵描きのおじいさん、和菓子の元職人など、いろいろである。こういう人たちに混じって、もう80歳を超すというおばあさんが住んでいて、これがまた有名人なのである。

 旦那さんははるか前にお亡くなりになっているので、一人住まいである。背筋はしゃきっとしていて、江戸っ子らしく気っぷがいい。常に和服を着こなしている。開放的な人柄で、誰とも区別せずに部屋に上げておしゃべりをするのが楽しみである。それに悠々自適という身の上なので、やることなすことが変わっている。年金の中から毎月5千円を社会のために使うということで、野良猫に餌を買ってあげたり、時には上野公園まで出かけ、ホームレスにお金を恵んであげているらしいのである。

 この人の部屋に一日二回は必ず訪ねてくるという友達のおばあさんがいる。こちらも、80歳を超した人で、昔からの無二の親友と言っていた。こちらは近くの小さな一軒家に住んでいて、料理が好きなようで、よく自分の作ったおかずを持ってきて、その気っぷのよいおばあさんと食事をしているのである。気っぷのいい方が背が高い。それに対して、料理の好きな方は背が低いので、その二人が出ていくと、われわれ口さがないマンション住民は「ああ、また御神酒徳利が歩いている」と言うのである。この二人の行動半径はとても広くて、近くの谷中だんだん坂の商店街はへっちゃらで、時には浅草までそろって出かけていくのである。それも「歩いて」である。いやもう、お元気なことで、われわれも常々感心していた。

 ところが、最近このおばあさんはちょっと弱気になってきたのか、「もう、いつでもお迎えがきてもいいわ」などと言っていた。こちらは「そんなこと、言うものじゃない」と話をしていたところ、年初めのある日、家の中で躓いて転んで、足を骨折してしまった。それがケチのつきはじめで、それで入院中に今度は肺炎になってしまったり、何だかんだとあって、可哀想なことに、まだ入院中である。これが「徳利」さんの方であるが、きょう、たまたまマンションの前を歩いていたら、「御神酒」さんに会った。「Mさん、まだ入院中ですか」と聞くと、しわくちゃの顔をさらにしわくちゃにして、悲しそうに「そうなんの」と言っていた。「それじゃ、また」と言って去っていくその背中は、とても寂しそうだった。


 (2001. 2.25)


6.小さい子の話

 もう、うちの子供達は社会人の一歩手前であり、もはや仕上がってしまったので、小さな子供を観察する機会はあまりなくなってしまった。それでも、家内が近くのスーパーに行くと、小さな子供連れのお母さんの会話を耳にして、たまに面白い話をしてくれる。

 今日の昼は、二歳くらいの女の子と、そのお母さんとの会話である。


 女の子  ねえ、これ、家にあったかしら
 お母さん ええ、お父さんが買ってきてくれたのがまだあったと思うわ。
 女の子  そうかなあ・・・
 
お母さん ああ、あれ買わなきゃ、さあ行きましょ


 なかなか、駆け引きのある会話である。女の子は、買ってくれとは正面切って言っていない。何度か痛い目にあったらしい。自己防衛本能が働いている。またこのお母さんも子供のあしらいがうまくて、正面からダメとはいわずに、その場にいないお父さんのせいにしている。そして、子供の目先をそらせて、どこかへ消えていってしまった。

 しかし、この女の子は、まだ二歳くらいだったという。それでいて、ちゃんと社交的駆け引きをしているところが、すごいところである。

(2001. 2.25)


5.ぞんざいな店

 きょうはお昼に近くの日本料理屋に入った。ここは、下町の食堂とでも言うのがふさわしいところで、店には何の体裁も加えていないし、店主もその息子のウェイターの兄ちゃんもまるで地のままのぞんざいさである。店内はざわざわしているし、普通ならこんな店に来たくなるはずがないのに、月に2〜3回は顔を出してしまう。なぜかというとその答えは簡単で、くやしいが、料理の味がよろしいのである。そのうえ、安くて、しかも早いときている。まるで昔の吉野屋であるが、ああいうファースト・フードではなくて、家庭料理そのままに作っていて、それでいて味だけは格別によいのである。

 きょう、その店で私はカウンターに座り、焼魚定食を頼んだ。出てきたのは、ぶりの照り焼きに、しじみのみそ汁、それに蓮根だのニンジンだのが入った煮物である。なかなか、うまいと思って、昼時の喧噪の中でそれを黙々と食べていると、隣に私と同年代の紳士が座った。彼は、カウンターの向こうの店主に注文しようとして、こう叫んだ。

お 客 「ミンチカツをください。そっ、それに野菜をたっぷり目にお願いします。」
店 主 「それじゃ、50円増しだよっ!」
お 客 「ぇへへへっー」
店 主 「んー、もうっ。『ぇへへっ』じゃないよ! ほんとだよっ!」
お 客 「そっ、そうかぁー。大雪で最近の野菜は高いからねぇ。」

 さて、あなたならどうしますか。このお客のように従順に納得してしまうか、じろりと店主をにらみ返すか、それとも席を蹴って出てくるか。まあ、たかが50円という、誠にもってみみっちい話ではあるが、その人の人生観が垣間見えるというものである。ちなみにこの紳士は、皿一杯に広がったキャベツのみじん切りの上に、小ぶりのミンチカツがぽつんと置かれたものがくると、それを黙々と食べ始めた。その後どうなったかは、よくわからない。

(2001. 2.14)


4.計算の季節

 父からのメール「今週の動き」によると、
   確定申告の書類作成し、2月1日に所轄税務署へ
   控えに受付印を押印して貰った。
 とある。受付日の2月15日のはるか前にもう行っている。企業財務の専門家だった几帳面な父らしい。

 それはともかくとして、また確定申告の季節が巡ってきてしまった。とりわけ面倒極まりないのは、医療費の控除である。歯医者に行ってハイ10万円などというのは滅多になく、その多くは細々とした領収書である。中には120円などという目を疑いたくなるものすらある。家内が真面目でしかも几帳面なせいか、領収書と名が付くと何でもかんでもとってある。それでも家族4人分になると、日替わりならぬ年替わりとでも言おうか、その年々によって代わる代わるに何か起こる。そうして領収書の計算を積み重ねると、不思議なことに、控除額の10万円を超えるのである。去年などは、病院へ行ったタクシー代と地下鉄のメトロカードを合計した分だけ超えたと言って笑い転げた。

 しかし、このようなものを計算させられる税務署の若い人は、はなはだもって気の毒である。もっとも、ベストセラーの「金持ち父さん、貧乏父さん」によると、私などは年間5ヶ月は国つまり税金のために働いているのだから、それくらいは我慢してもらいたい。それにしても、残りの7ヶ月って、いったい何だろう。2ヶ月は銀行つまり住宅ローン、3ヶ月は大学生の子供だから、そうすると、私は家内と自分のために一年の内わずか2ヶ月しか働いていないのか。やっぱり貧乏父さんの状態になっているのは、仕方がないことかもしれない。

(2001. 2.10)


3.貧乏父さん

 ロバート・キヨサキという日系アメリカ人の書いた「金持ち父さん、貧乏父さん」という本が評判である。私もそのうち書評でも書いてみるかという気がしているが、私自身はこの本のいう貧乏父さんの典型だと思って、思わず苦笑してしまった。知性もあり社会的地位もあるが、残念ながらお金に関する知恵と知識が全くなくて、ラットレースといわれるがごとくに、人生をあたふたと駆けめぐっている。住宅ローンという名の負債を抱えて、その借金を返すのに汲々としている。うーん、全くその通りである。アメリカ人の中では、知性も地位に何もなくてよいから、ともかく50歳を目標に大金を稼いで悠々と引退しようとする人ほど尊敬されるということは知っていたが、これは金持ち父さんのことであったのか。目から鱗の心境である。しかしまあ、そういう手合いは、日本では成金といって、決して尊敬される存在ではないのだけれど、現代資本主義社会では、やはり勝者なのだろう。

 それにしても、貧乏父さんのままでは、私だって面白くない。といっても、いまから急に金持父さんになれるほどお金儲けの知恵があるわけではない。まあ、私として唯一自慢できるものといえば、常々、自分で考えたりあるいは家内と話しをしていることが、それなりに面白くて大切な知的財産であると思いこんでいることである。だからそういうことでもこの欄に書き付けておき、せめてもの鬱憤晴らしとしよう。

(2001. 2.05)


2.気に掛かること

 ずっと昔のことで、しかもそれが大したことではないものの、何かどうも腑に落ちなくて、心の片隅に引っかかっていたことがある。それが何十年も経ってからふとした出来事がきっかけで、「ああそういうことだったのか」と初めて気がついて、我が身の不明をいたく恥じたり、後悔したりすることがあったりする。
 つい先頃もそういうことがあった。きっかけは、大学時代の同窓会が夫婦同伴で開かれて、私の家内がある友人の隣にすわったことである。家内が聞き上手だったのか、それとも今や社会的に成功しているその友人がなつかしい昔話として語る気になったのか、まあどちらでもよいが、私はその話をあとから家内から聞いて、たいへんに驚いたのである。

 というのは、その友人は、親の事業がうまくいかなかったので、大学時代にはとてもお金に苦労し、生活のためにアルバイトを何でもやって大変だったと語ったらしい。この友人は、大学時代にはそんな様子を全く見せていなかった。それどころか、いささか大言壮語の癖があるのではないかと思うくらいに、元気に何でも積極的な人で、私はこの人のことを「そんな性格なのだろう、それにしても変わっているな」などと、単純に思っていたのである。ところが、そういう目で改めて昔の彼との交遊を振り返ってみると、彼にはその生活の苦労をしのばせるような、いろいろと納得することがあった。当時の私は、そんな事情とはつゆ知らなかったとはいえ、彼に対してもう少し気を働かせて接してあげればよかったのではないかと、やや忸怩たる気持ちになったものである。

(2001. 2.03)


1.折々の心覚え

 吉田兼好 法師のような枯れた心境ではないが、歳をとると確かに何か思いついたことを徒然なるままに記しておきたくなる。それがまとまって長いものになれば、エッセイと称して写真付きで麗々しくアップロードするが、そうでもない短いものは、人生折々の心覚えのためにでも、こちらで記録しておくことにしたい。

(2001. 2. 1)














(C) Yama san 2000 - 2005. All rights reserved

(Source) Chidren's icon(Patapata Anime)