**** Photoalbum (Personal) ****


Evidence-Based History of Personal Deterioration
(cf. Der Untergang des Abendlandes by Oswald Spengler)



At age 4


With Mom and younger brother Masao in the air show at Komaki AFB near Nagoya in 1963, with an active-duty F-86D Saber jet in the background. Kanji characters on the panel mean No Smoking!


With a first-generation model of Toyota Corolla in 1967, of which my father Tatsuo was assigned as a chief engineer for design and developement




"On my current hot seat in autumn 2005"
(Crick here to enlarge, Nikon Coolpix)


"With my AP/CP lab staff (gang) in autumn 2005"


"With my current AP/CP lab staff (gang) in March 2011 at the farewell party of our techinical manager Mr. Matsushita (center with black suit, Age-limit retirement for non-MDs at age 60 and for MDs at age 65) (Crick here to enlarge) who was originally pharmaceutical chemist (4-year college graduate) and switched a career to biochemistry of laboratory medicine in its heyday. His successor is Mr. Takahashi, sitting on his left side



Photo-1


Photo-2

Photo-1 and Photo-2. After active duty as public official MD of the nation (for circa 10 years) and of the local government Odawara Municipality (for 28 years), I retired at age 65 in healthy state on March 31 2018. Odawara Municipal Hospital kindly held official retirement ceremony at elegant wedding parlor in Odawara City on March 16 2018, with Prof. Sugimura as a guest of honour, who is junior fellow in the post-graduate course of pathology at University of Tokyo Medical School with a shared superviser Prof. Wataru Mori.


Photo-3

Photo-3 As I relocate my work to the commercial laboratory Koto Biken Pathology Institute as full-time deputy director after April 1 2018, I miss these topflight surgeons (Top-Knife) at Odawara, (from left) Dr. Makino, Dr. Kametaka, Dr. Fukada, (Dr. Seike is off, sorry to say), who are over 10 years younger than me, however, my bona fide comrade-in-arms in the setting just like fighting on the mountainous terrain in Afghan besieged by Taliban. This photo was shot in the OR on March 31 2018 just before my leaving the battle field.


Photo-3

Photo-4 I also miss my support staff (medical technologist) with whom I keep together probably longer than my family for the last 28 years, (from left) Mrs. Horii (cytology), Mr. Takahashi, Mr. Isozaki (cytology) and Mr. Iwasaki (EM).




At Massachusetts General Hospital, Mecca of the CPC, which I visited for sightseeing in WINTER 1989. "Veni, vidi, - I came, I saw," In spite of sub-zero Celsius temperature, I was with ardent spirits.




At Washington Monument. Magnificent! What a country, hmm, this is AMERICA. Actually, I enjoyed a round trip (New York - Boston - Washington, D.C.). Thanks to a wonderful idea of "Sightseeing in February" of the northeastern USA, I didn't have to wait in a line.




At Yasukuni Shrine 1995. We have been regularly visiting Yasukuni, irrespective of who is PM of Japan (Click here to enlarge, With Minolta X-700, at noon)



At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2002 (Click here to enlarge, With Contax RTS, with Zeiss distagon 35 mm, late afternoon)


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2003 (With Canon AE-1, with 35-70 zoom, in the morning)


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2004 (With Ricoh Caplio G3, at noon)


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2005 (With Nikon Coolpix 2100 with flash, in the early evening)


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2006, obviously not influenced by Chinese anti-Yasukuni rioting to the Japanese consulate and interests organized in Spring 2005 (With Nikon D70 with flash, unexpectely outreached by a kind young Shinto priest, early evening)


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2007 (With Nikon D70 with flash, late afternoon)


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2008 (With Pentax Optio E40 with flash, at noon)


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2009 (With Pentax Optio E40, before noon)


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2010 (With Nikon D3000, in the late afternoon of January 2 2010, shot by Mineko with manual focus/exposure 1/30, preset by Akio, Tamron 35/70 1:3.5 old manual lense) .

Addendum: Photo-1 People seething in front of Haiden (Main Hall), Photo-2 At amulet booth, Photo-3 View from the Main Gate to the approaching people, Photo-4 View from the entrance to the main and second Gate, with stalls on both sides (ditto With Nikon D3000, shot by Akio with manual focus/exposure 1/30, Tamron 35/70 1:3.5 old manual lense)



At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2011 (With Nikon D70s on tripod, in the late afternoon of January 2 2011, shot by automatic AE, self-timer and flash).

In fact, I am born in 1951 (rabbit year) and "Person of Year (”N’j)" this year on 5th rotations of the zodiac animal signs (12x5 years old this year, see below description).
Addendum: Photo-1 Billboard and Haiden in different angle, Photo-2 People queueing in front of Haiden (Main Hall), Photo-3 View from the entrance to the main and second Gate, with stalls on both sides (Nikon D70s, AF-S Nikkor 18/70 1:3.5-4.5 ED with auto focus/exposure)



At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2012 (With Nikon D3000, in the morning of January 2 2012, shot by my wife Mineko) with my old mother Miyoko, age 89.

This year is dragon year on the rotations of the zodiac animal signs .
Addendum: Photo-1 Billboard and Haiden in different angle, Photo-2 My wife Mineko preparing money offering before throwing into the wooden box , Photo-3 View from the second gate to the main gate and the entrance, with stalls on both sides (see very common people of Japan. Where are the sterotypic militarists which the western anti-Yasukuni mass media and propagandists prefer?), Photo-4 Akio, my mother Miyoko and my wife Mineko at the second gate (Nikon D3000, old Nikkor-S 35mm 1:2.8 lense, manual focus/manual exposure, some with tripod)




At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2013 (With Nikon D3000, in the morning of January 2 2013, shot using Nikon remote-shutter control ML-L3 and tripod). My old mother Miyoko passed away in August 2012 in peace at age 90.



At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2014 (With Nikon D3000, in the afternoon of January 1 2014, shot by Naoko). This year is horse year on the rotations of the zodiac animal signs. Actually, my winter jacket, flannel shirts, chino pants and moccasin shoes are all from L.L.Bean, by chance.

Addendum: Usually our family visit on later-than January 2, but this year we visited at circa 15PM on January 1, and were astonished with the shrine packed with worshippers. Photo-1 From main hall to the entrance (backward view). Photo-2 In front of the main hall where we pray and wish for the new year's luck and thank for our war dead (victims) of the past Japan, and throw some monetary offering into the box. Photo-3 With my second daughter Naoko, ENT doc. Photo-4 Enlarged view of the wooden billboard.


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2015 (With Nikon D3000, in the morning of January 2 2015, shot using tripod and self-timer). This year is sheep year on the rotations of the zodiac animal signs. My winter jacket, flannel shirts, and moccasin shoes are all from L.L.Bean, this year too.


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2016 (With Nikon D3000, in the morning of January 2 2016, shot with tripod and Nikon remote-shutter control ML-L3). This year is monkey year on the rotations of the zodiac animal signs. I put on Lands' End thick jacket, LL Bean's scarf, flannel shirts, trousers and moccasin shoes, actually this year too.

For over 40 years, our couple (occasionally with our children together) has visited here regularly new year and in August (2 x over 40 times) - deserving of reward for perfect attendance? In spite of recent South Korean's terrorist attack to this shrine, common people have the decency to show respect for our wardead, pray for peace and stability of this region and each family's luck - Photo-1. We pray and make a money offering (coin or bill). In our case, 500 Yen coin x 2 this time. Accoding to my observation, almost all coins were silver-colored (100 Yen or 500 Yen), very rarely brown colored (10 Yen) - Photo-2: Overview of Haiden (main hall).


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2017 (With Nikon D3000, in the morning of January 2 2017, shot with tripod, AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm zoom lens and Nikon remote-shutter control ML-L3). This year is Rooster year on the rotations of the zodiac animal signs.


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2018 (With Nikon D3000, in the morning of January 2 2018, shot with tripod, AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm zoom lens and Nikon remote-shutter control ML-L3). This year is Dog year on the rotations of the zodiac animal signs.


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2019 (With Nikon D3000, in the morning of January 2 2019, shot with tripod, AF-S Nikkor 18-70 mm zoom lens and Nikon remote-shutter control ML-L3). This year is Wild Boar year on the rotations of the zodiac animal signs.


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2020 (With Nikon D3000, in the morning of January 2 2020, shot with tripod, AF-S Nikkor 18-70 mm zoom lens and self-timer).
This year is Mouse year (crick for enlargement) on the rotations of the zodiac animal signs.


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2021 (With Nikon D3000, in the morning of January 2 2021, shot with tripod, AF-S Nikkor 18-70 mm zoom lens and remote-shutter control).
This year is Cow year on the rotations of the zodiac animal signs. With social distancing order with Covid-19 pandemic, the worshippers are sparse this year - Photo-1, Photo-2, Photo-3 in front of the main hall.


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2022 (With Nikon D3000, in the morning of January 4 2022, shot with tripod, AF-S Nikkor 18-70 mm zoom lens and remote-shutter control).
This year is Tiger year on the rotation of the zodiac animal signs. After the crowded worshippers on Jan 1-3 has receded, it is calm this morning - Photo-1: Viewing the second shrine arch, Photo-2: In front of the main hall (Haiden).


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2023 (With Nikon D3000, at 8:30 in the morning of January 2 2023, shot with tripod, AF-S Nikkor 18-70 mm zoom lens and selftimer).
This year is Rabit year on the rotation of the 12 zodiac animal signs. The view to the entrance side Kudanshita - Photo-1, Main Gate - Photo-2, Congratulatory hanging curtain on the main gate - Photo-3, On the entrance road to Main Hall (Haiden) - Photo-4, Monthly bulletin of the letter from the battle field (fallen heros). This month, Otoji Kato, Private First Class (PFC) of the Imperial Japanese Army, killed in action on December 14, 1939 at age 27, in Kohokusho, China. This letter is to his wife in the home town (Yama county, Fukushima Prefecture) - Photo-5, We bow our heads twice and throw in some coin into the wooden box of Haiden. In front of the wooden plaque, depicting the animal of the oriental zodiac, one cycle in 12 years. This year is rabbit year, and I am person of zodiac year (12 x 6 = 72 years old in this August) Photo-6, Rabbits in zodiac year - Photo-7, Monument to Dr. Radhabinod Pal (Indian). who was a member judge of Tokyo Court after the defeat of WW2, who defended the Japanese side Photo-8.


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2024 (With Nikon D3000, at 8:30 in the morning of January 2 2024, shot with tripod, AF-S Nikkor 18-70 mm zoom lens and selftimer).
This year is Dragon year on the rotation of the 12 zodiac animal signs. The view to the Main Gate - Photo-1, Photo-2, Congratulatory hanging curtain of the dragon on the main gate - Photo-3, On the entrance road to Main Hall (Haiden) - Photo-4, The Main Hall Photo-5, where we bow our heads twice and throw in some coin into the wooden box of Haiden. The large pictorial offering, depicting the animal of the oriental zodiac, one cycle in 12 years. This year is dragon year Photo-6, Dragon in zodiac year, Monthly bulletin of the letter from the battle field (fallen heros). This month, Yuhin Tokutome, the major.of the Imperial Japanese Army, KIA in china on September 12 1938. This letter is to his son, a student of the primary school Photo-7, ditto English translation Photo-8.


At Yasukuni Shrine New Year 2025 (With Nikon D3000, at 8:20 in the morning of January 2 2025, shot with tripod, AF-S Nikkor 18-105 mm zoom lens and selftimer).
This year is Snake year on the rotation of the 12 zodiac animal signs. The view of the main gate - Photo-1, in front of the main hall (Haiden) - Photo-2, monthly display of the letter from the battle field by the soldier killed in action - Photo-3, ditto in English translation - Photo-4, main hall (Haiden) - Photo-5 we pray and throw money offering here, then in front of the annual zodiac new year billboard - Photo-6.



Paying a new year homage regularly to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine with my family, located near my home in Tokyo, which is approximately equivalent to Arlington National Cemetery, we study not only from the military heritage, but the HISTORY itself. Herr Professor Arnold J.Toynbee! BTW, horse, sheep, monkey, fowl, dog, wild boar and mouse depicted in the wooden billboard shows one of the zodiac animal signs (mouse-cow-tiger-rabbit-dragon-snake-horse-sheep-monkey-rooster-dog-boar) rotating in 12 years.



On October 2 2004, I became an owner of Birkin 7 (chassis #MA1-93-2484-3, manual 5 speed, Weber twin carburetors, Ford Kent 1.6 littre), which is a pedigree of Lotus 7, UK, and was being manufactured in South Africa. My dream since the age of high school boy (BTW, do you remember the TV series "The Prisoner" in the late 60's in which Patrick McGoohan drives a Lotus 7 ? "Kar120C", "Nimble Cars: Seven") finally came true, but the challenges waiting in the future remain undetermined. It is said that there is no word for Quality Assurance for this type of brutally honest cars, and I entirely accept the term "at your own risk". Anyway, I am setting sail on a maiden voyage.


On maiden flight at Hayama, Kanagawa (With Nikon Coolpix 2100)


Feeling the wind on the road along the shoreline of Hayama (By my wife with Nikon Coolpix 2100)

Jump to "Photoalbum of My Birkin 7" page




"Every nation views international events through the prism of its history. ,,, The paradox is that a country that thinks of itself as acting in the name of universal values is seen by too many others as acting arbitrarily, or inexplicably, or arrogantly."
(Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, in "New World Disorder" submitted to Newsweek, May 31, 1999)

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