I finally find out the essense of the Japanese attitude toward Modernization,
WA-KON-YOU-SAI, which means WA = Japasese, domestic, national, KON = soul, spirit, der Geist,
YOU = western hemisphere, SAI = knowledge, science, technology, i.e., "Study the western science
and technology, while maitaining your Japanese spirit". It is not a contradiction but an
engineered process of subtle chemical reaction for them.
Overview of the Odawara Castle whose commanding tower ("Tenshukaku" in Japanese) is partly
seen in the upper right portion. The design of my current hospital, which is located in the same city,
is of course quite different from this clasic architecture of the Samurai Era.
People of Odawara City seems very proud of this castle and mentally
still associated with its conservative tradition. Although the path encircling this moat is
reputedly an ideal dating spot at dusk for young lovers, you must remember that rumors spread
rapidly like an arrow in the local town. ;)
"The Rule of Security: The likelihood of a secret's being blown is proportional to the of the number of people who're in on it." (By Tom Crancy. The Hunt for Red October, p.39, Naval Institute Press, 1984)
"The dark side of the sense of the community is the lack of privacy, the lack of freedom to speak your mind. You can't openly offend anyone, because you're going to see them the next day - and for the rest of your life." (A professor of history and native studies at the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada, in "A World Apart No More", National Geographic, May 1998)
"Here you might not like somebody, but you go to the funeral" (Lloyd Goodrich, a resident with a master's degree in engineering in Mentone, Texas - population 15, more or less -, in "ZipUSA79754", National Geographic, September 2000)
Actually, I too love Small Town America philosophy (Ref. Small Town America.
By David Plowden. Henry N. Abrams. Inc., New York, 1994. ISBN 0-8109-3842-1). I would like to capture
immortal and elegant images of small town Japan populated by people before they vanish.
"'No hay pierde,' the campesinos say, giving directions, 'there is no loss,' meaning the trail, or the road, or memory." (By Paul Salopek, in "Sierra Madre Pilgrimage", National Geographic, June 2000)
Located at the east foot of the Mount Fuji, it is pristine and solemn.
It was built after a major eruption in 13th century to quiet its violent activity.
We are paying a new year visit 1998. Avirex G-1 antiq lamb may be a bit mismatch
for this landscape.
"BLUE IMPULSE", a flight demonstration team of the Japan Self Defense Air Force
(JSDAF), which is based at Matsushima AFB in the northern Honshu Island, is flying
their show at Iruma AFB near Tokyo on November 3 1998. They are performing
a superb barrel-roll with four T-4 jet trainers, leaving a quadruple spiral of smoke.
Neat, crisp, but a bit under-powered from the western standard (cf. Blue Angels and
Thunderbirds). Like HAIKU.
Members of the seasoned samurai pilots are flying antique T-33 tandem jet trainers,
packed in standard diamond formation. It is announced that the total ages of them exceed 400 years (2
old guys x 4). Auld lang syne.
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