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How was this year for you?
2007-12-28
Dear guys, How was this year for you?
Before getting into preparation for a new year,
please let me tell thanks to my best person of the year.
He always encouraged me when I felt a wave of defeat.
I almost gave up to keep going,
but I was invigorated by his encouragement many times.
You always said "Good Job!" and " You can do it!" for me.
I can't express how happy I am.
People says; "He is already in the past." ,but I don't care about that.
Thanks to him,
I lost some weight!! Yee━ ヽ(`Д´)ﾉahhh━I did it━━!!!!
↓My best person of the year is here. Let's circle! circle! 軍隊式プレス！
May the new year bring you happiness!
(´∀｀)ノ
Cheers!
Samurai went to America
2007-12-24
National Isolation
Did you know that Samurai visited America for the first time as a Japanese diplomat in 1860? It is like History Channel today, isn't it?In Japan, Christianity was brought from Portugal in 1549. However, it was a serious threat to spread Christianity in Japan for The Tokugawa Shogunate. It meant the breakdown of law and order for them. As they feared, the rebellion was risen by Christians in 1637.（島原の乱）
Afterwards, traveling to outside from Japan and trading with foreign countries, except for some of countries were prohibited for about 200 years.
The Gate was opened
*You can click the name.*
In 1853, 4 American warships led by ＊Matthew Perry came to Japan to demand open the ports to foreign countries and renew a trade and so on.
It was so threat to receive an intervention of America for Japan. Because we were behind Western countries during closing the gate. The Gate of Japan was opened by America like that.
However, in 1858, Japan signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce.（日米修好通商条約）It was very disadvantage to Japan.
Mission to America -Ratify unequal treaties
Japan suffered from those disadvantage treaties. We had no rights to determine duties, besides we couldn't try foreigners by Japanese law system.In 1860, Japanese samurais were sent on a mission to America to ratify them and succeeded. They were surprised at everything in America; technology, culture, food； like me.
When they visited Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., they were astonished to see that mummy was displayed as an exhibition. One of the samurai's diary said that: " Oh my God,,,, I can't make sense of American. How can they make a show of a dried body?" ( ;ﾟДﾟ) Gee........!!
Now, I can't help feeling deep emotion that I could visit the same place and see the same scenery that the samurais used to do so in Washington D.C. about 150 years ago.
Here's a picture about visiting Washington D.C. by the Samurais
http://inforyoma.com/bakumatu/kenbei.htm
うへあー、長かった...。脳が溶けそうです。さて、遣米使節団について日本語で書きます。
皆さん、１８６０年（万延元年）にアメリカの軍艦ポーハタン号に乗って渡米したこのサムライ達を知っていましたか？どちらかというと、護衛艦として随伴した咸臨丸の方が有名ですよね。 残念ながら、彼らの活躍はあまり知られていないのですが、いやいや、日米修好通商条約の批准とその後の＊横須賀製鉄所建設などの功績を見れば、彼らの役割は日本の近代化において十分貢献したと言えるでしょう。＊クリックすると関連ページにリンクします。
使節団の一人である、監察・目付の小栗上野介はワシントンDCの海軍造船所を見学し、詳細にメモを取ってはその勤勉さに周囲のアメリカ人は感心したといいます。また、１７歳の若きメンバー＊立石斧次郎（通称トミー）は彼のコミカルな性格により、どこへ行っても人気者！アメリカ中の乙女のハートを鷲掴みにしたようです。これだけモテた日本人男性はかつていただろうか？
また記録よると、彼らはワシントンDCにあるスミソニアン博物館で「人骸の乾物（かわきもの）」いわゆるミイラを見て驚愕し、「天地問の万物を究理さる改新の如きに至といへど、鳥獣虫魚とひとしく人骸を井て置は言語に絶たり。」とあります。学問の為とはいえ、遺体を鳥獣と同じく展示するとは何事か。といったところでしょうか。私もスミソニアンで同じ人骸の乾物を見たと思うと、感慨深いものがあります。
しかし残念な事に、初のアメリカ公式訪問という偉業を成し遂げたにも関わらず、幕府の対応はクールなものでした。そりゃ、尊王か攘夷か、国内は揺れてましたものね。小栗に至ってはその後、群馬県高崎市（権田村：旧倉渕村）において処刑されてしまいましたし...。
しかし時は流れて日露戦争後、かの海軍大将、東郷平八郎はこう述べたそうです。もし小栗が推進した横須賀の製鉄所がなかったら、日本海海戦においてバルチック艦隊を打ち負かすことはできなかっただろうと。 群馬県高崎市にある東善寺には東郷が小栗の遺族に感謝の意を込めて贈った書額が保存されているそうです。http://tozenzi.cside.com/sonotoki.htm
＊遣米使節団小話
・ワシントンDCにあるウィラードホテルは、初めて日本人（すなわち彼ら）が宿泊したホテルである。
・枕の数が不足していて一同は余りの枕を探した。すると、ベッドの下に白く美しい、どんぶりのようなものを発見し大喜びでそれを使っていたら、なんとそれは尿瓶であった。それを見た女中は仰天したらしい。
・日本への帰路、西インド諸島にあるポルト・グランデに寄港した際に、日本語が多少分かる原住民から「助平！」と、異国の地で心ならずも卑猥な言葉を浴びせられる。
・帰路、ジャワ島あたりで醤油が尽きる。「大早（ひでり）ノ雨ヲ望ムカ如シ」と
記されている。彼らは使節の用人に頼み込んで、茶碗一杯ほどの醤油をめぐんでもらい、みんなで分け合った。醤油は日本人にとって無くてはならないものだなあ。
・小栗上野介の子孫は漫画家である。(昔、週刊少年ジャンプで連載漫画を描いていた。）
うへあ、、こっちも長くなってしもうた。また来年もよろしくお願いいたします。 来年も皆さんにとって良い一年でありますように！ (*´v｀)ノ
＊おまけ＊ ゴロ合わせで年号を覚えよう！
キリスト教伝来：以後よく（１５４９年）広まるキリスト教。
本能寺の変 ：いちごパンツ（１５８２年）の信長さん、本能寺で討たれる。
黒船来航 ：黒船来航いや、御免（１８５３年）
Capital Pride in Dupont Circle
2007-12-19
Dupont Circle Station：デュポンサークル駅
Dupont Circle is a cosmopolitan neighborhood with some of Washington D.C.. It's located in northwest of Washington D.C. and it takes about 20 or 30 minutes from Rockville by Metrorail. (Using RED LINE. from Twinbrook to Dupont Circle. Twinbrook station was the nearest station from my place.)
We can see many foreign embassies as well as many ethnic restaurants, shops, and so on at there. There is a town vibrant with life.
Dupont Circle is also famous as a community of gays and lesbians.
Here's a system map of Metro; http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm
Capital Pride Parade
Capital Pride is a festival to celebrate Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders community pride. It is held in June every year.
Well,, How do I say,,, In my opinion, it kinds of almost taboo topic to come out it in public in Japan. How do you think?
However, they have a firm pride about theirselves. I could feel their majestic attitude.
Although it may against ethics to love or marry with the same sex each other, (I'm afraid.... only just looking or talking with them is okay.) I want to yell for them.
About Capital Pride
http://www.capitalpride.org/flash/index.html
Washington D.C.
2007-12-15
Now, I'll give you the grand tour to Washington D.C..
Washington D.C. is the capital city of the United States.
It doesn't belong any other states. The official name is "Washington, District of Columbia"
It was named after George Washington; the first president of the U.S. and
Christopher Columbus who is an explorer of America.
In the U.S., people often call there "Washington DC" or "DC",
rather than "Washington" in order not to confuse state of Washington in Western coast.
DC is located on near midstream of Potomac River.
The scenery from George Washington Memorial Parkway (The name of a road) is very beautiful. I thought I told you before that I really love there very much!
I make an arbitrary decision to call there " The Ash Point". It's not the place to celebrate Ash Wednesday.
Sorry, It's a secret why ash point there is.
Get over homesickness
2007-12-05
2002 Early summerAbout 2 month passed. I got used to living in the U.S. gradually. However, I often had a feeling of homesickness deeply.
I hate to rag, but I was suffering from language barrier, besides I didn't have any friends yet. I didn't know how I should spend my time in the U.S., so I often spent time to play video game or surf internet whole day. I might have been like a geek...
One day, my neighborhood took me to a kind of meeting called "International Women's Group"(IWG) It was a group for women who has husband works at NIH(National Institutes of Health).
I met a Japanese lady who lived in same apartment and she was as same generation as me.
My favorite things were similar to hers, so we hit it off immediately.
She is very cheerful and funny. I like her very much.
I could get into the life in the U.S. completely at last, through the encounter with her. Thanks Miso-chan! I really appreciate you!
259 Congressional Tower
I found the movie on YouTube
2007-12-01
ようつべで,こんなん見つけました。スペイン語版 小島よしおHave fun! Have a nice weekend!
*そんなの関係ねぇ！
って英語でなんて言うんですかね？ How do I say in English?
I don't care about that!..... It doesn't matter!... でいいんですかね？
NewYork NewYork 2
2007-12-01
NewYork.... What an energetic city here is!I've never seen such a fusion of various races, everyone was so active,city's movements never stop and so speedy as if it never knew to sleep.
Many races,,, White American, Black American, Asian, Europe, African, Middle East,,,,, I can't count it. Anyway, It was so shocking to see many pepole were crowded.
Besides, NewYork has a lot of entertainments, musical, singing, dancing, it never tired with anyone and it brings someting new every times as if it was a fountainhead.
We went to the theater to see PHANTOM of the OPERA
As a matter of fact, I couldn't understand what the performers were saying in English at all, (still now!) but their passion and heartful performance communicated itself to me.
Perhaps, I've had a kind of feeling since at this point ..." What is my life?" "What can I do?" "What am I doing?"
I was born in Hyogo..... I grew up in Gunma.. and then... I got a job.... and quit it.... and then....that's it?? what's next?? "What is an asset to me without my lost job?" I found that my life is always halfway, as a nurse, yes,, everything. I wonder if I have tried my best to do something in my life..... and I found that I knew only small world in Japan. I don't know the reason why I thought about the way of my life suddenly at that time.
NewYork gave me a good opportunity to think how I have spent in my life.
Sorry! I didn't have a picture of Phantom of the Opera.
